The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lewes, East Sussex) (Emergency) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 14th Aug 26

Established an immediate emergency no-fly zone below 3,000 feet within 1.5 nautical miles of Lewes, East Sussex.

These Regulations prohibit all aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within a 1.5 nautical mile radius of a specific location in Lewes, East Sussex.

This restriction applies immediately to all civilian and commercial pilots, though it grants East Sussex Police the authority to permit specific flights via official directions.

The Secretary of State issued this order under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an unspecified emergency deemed to affect the public interest.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that a reason affecting the public interest makes these restrictions necessary due to an emergency having arisen in the specified area.
The document states that the restrictions are intended to be of temporary duration and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
The regulations provide a mechanism for flight operations to continue if they are conducted in accordance with specific directions given by the East Sussex Police.

Arguments Against

The regulations do not specify the exact nature of the emergency, which may make it difficult for the public or aviation stakeholders to assess the proportionality of the restriction.
The immediate commencement of the regulations provides no prior notice to pilots or drone operators who may already be airborne or planning flights in the Lewes area.
Civil liberties groups or local stakeholders might seek clarity on the criteria for revocation, as the document leaves the end date contingent on the passing of the unspecified emergency.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lewes, East Sussex) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.

This section provides the official name of the regulations and specifies that they become legally active at the moment of signing.

This bypasses the standard notice period usually required for new legislation due to the emergency nature of the instrument.

Restricted airspace

No aircraft is to fly below 3,000 feet above mean sea level over the area specified in Column 1 of the Schedule, being an area bounded by a circle of the radius specified in Column 2 and centred on the position specified in Column 3.
These Regulations do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by East Sussex Police.

These sections define the vertical and horizontal boundaries of the restricted airspace, prohibiting flight below 3,000 feet within the designated 1.5 nautical mile radius.

They also establish an exemption for any aircraft operating under the specific instructions or authorization of the East Sussex Police.

SCHEDULE

Regulation 2

Table 1

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |--------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Lewes, East Sussex | 1.5 nautical miles | 505301N 00000W |

The Schedule provides the precise geographical coordinates and dimensions for the restricted zone.

It identifies the center point of the restriction as 50°53'01"N 000°00'W and sets a circular boundary extending 1.5 nautical miles from that point.

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The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Whelford, Gloucestershire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026

Mon 28th Sept 26

Restricted airspace below Flight Level 95 within a 4 nautical mile radius of Whelford, Gloucestershire, due to an emergency, exempting flights authorized by Gloucestershire Police.

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