The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lincoln) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lincoln) Regulations 2026 establish temporary prohibitions on flying unmanned aircraft below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined geographic area around Lincoln on May 9th, 2026, between 1100 and 1800 Co-ordinated Universal Time, citing public safety and security concerns related to a large public gathering, though exceptions exist for existing prison restrictions and flights authorized by the Lincolnshire Police Counter-UAS Team.
Arguments For
Ensuring public safety and security during a large gathering, specifically the Lincoln City Football Club Parade, by managing airspace risks associated with unmanned aircraft (drones).
Providing clear operational boundaries (altitude and geographic coordinates) for aviation activities to prevent unauthorized or interfering drone operations near crowds.
Granting necessary authority to the Lincolnshire Police Counter-UAS Team to manage immediate threats or authorized operations within the restricted zone.
Arguments Against
Temporary restriction on legitimate commercial or private drone operations within the specified area on the given date, potentially impacting scheduled activities or photography.
The imposition of temporary flight restrictions can impose burdens on drone operators who may not be aware of the specific geographic coordinates or timing (1100 to 1800 UTC).
Relying on a single authority (Lincolnshire Police Counter-UAS Team) for permission might create bottlenecks or unclear lines of communication for essential exceptions.
2026 No. 453
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lincoln) Regulations 2026
| Made - - - | 23rd April 2026 | |---------------------|-------------------| | Coming into force - | 9th May 2026 |
This heading identifies the legal document as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 453 concerning Civil Aviation.
The instrument was formally made on April 23rd, 2026, and officially comes into legal effect on May 9th, 2026.
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
The responsible Secretary of State determined that public interest requires limiting drone flights in a specified location due to an anticipated large crowd event.
This action is taken using the authority granted under Article 239 of the 2016 Air Navigation Order.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lincoln) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 9th May 2026.
The official short name for this legislation is the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lincoln) Regulations 2026.
The rules specified within this document become legally binding starting May 9th, 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
Any specific times mentioned elsewhere in the restriction, detailed in regulation 3(1), must be understood using Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1100 hours and ending with 1800 hours on 9th May 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-
(a) 531516N 0003246W,
(b) 531515N 0003155W,
(c) 531435N 0003146W,
(d) 531426N 0003115W,
(e) 531353N 0003122W,
(f) 531250N 0003203W,
(g) 531251N 0003301W,
(h) 531346N 0003314W,
(i) 531415N 0003255W, and
(j) 531516N 0003246W.
This establishes the core restriction: between 11:00 and 18:00 UTC on May 9th, 2026, drones cannot fly lower than 1,300 feet above sea level within the defined geographical perimeter.
This perimeter is described by a series of precise latitude and longitude coordinates, forming a closed boundary loop.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply-
- (a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023( a ), or
- (b) to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with the permission of the Lincolnshire Police Counter-UAS Team.
Two specific exceptions exist to the general restriction.
First, the rule does not apply where drone flight is already banned under regulations concerning prisons and young offender institutions.
Second, any drone flight authorized by the Lincolnshire Police Counter-UAS Team is exempt from this specific restriction.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
23rd April 2026
The document is signed under the authority of the Secretary of State for Transport on the date of its signing, April 23rd, 2026.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Lincoln, Lincolnshire for the Lincoln City Football Club Parade that is due to take place there on 9th May 2026. At the request of Lincolnshire Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in that area for reasons of public safety and security.
This non-binding note clarifies that the primary purpose of these rules is to restrict drone operations around Lincoln on May 9th, 2026, to ensure public safety during the Lincoln City Football Club Parade.
The restriction was put in place following a request from Lincolnshire Police, agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2)(b), the Lincolnshire Police CounterUAS Team may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, contactable on telephone number 03301 382515.
The note reiterates that specified times are UTC, which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
It directs interested parties to established notifications for further details regarding the Statute Instrument, such as Briefing Sheets and Notices to Airmen (NOTAM).
A specific contact person within the Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Thomas Shainberg, is provided for inquiries.
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