Prohibited unauthorized aircraft from flying below 6,500 feet near Longleat during scheduled flying displays in September 2026.
These Regulations establish a temporary restricted airspace around Longleat, Wiltshire, to facilitate the Icons of the Sky flying displays.
The order prohibits all aircraft from flying below 6,500 feet above mean sea level within a specified two-nautical-mile radius unless they have received express permission from the event's aviation directors.
These restrictions apply to all pilots and aircraft operators during the afternoons of 11 September through 13 September 2026.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to scheduled flying displays.
The Explanatory Note states that the restrictions are required for public safety because participating aircraft will be performing high-energy manoeuvres.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport have agreed that the volume and nature of the activity necessitate restricted airspace.
Arguments Against
General aviation pilots may argue that the 2-nautical-mile radius and 6,500-foot ceiling impose a disproportionate burden on transit through Wiltshire airspace.
Recreational drone users or local private airfield operators might face disruption if they have not been directly notified via the mentioned Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC).
Critics of the specific event might question the necessity of a three-day restriction period for a time-limited public display.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Longleat) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 11th September 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. The rules take effect on 11 September 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This section defines the time standard used for the flying restrictions.
It specifies that all listed times use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1900 hours on each of the three days beginning with 11th September 2026 and ending with 13th September 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 6,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles which is centre at 511100N 0021558W.
- (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft operating in accordance with a permission issued by-
- (a) the Icons of the Sky Flying Display Director,
- (b) the Icons of the Sky Deputy Flying Display Director, or
- (c) the Icons of the Sky Director of Aviation.
This section prohibits flight below 6,500 feet within a 2-nautical-mile radius of the coordinates 511100N 0021558W (Longleat).
The restriction is active daily from 12:00 to 19:00 UTC starting 11 September and ending 13 September 2026.
Aircraft are exempt from this prohibition if they have obtained specific permission from the Icons of the Sky aviation leadership team.
This includes the Flying Display Director, their Deputy, or the Director of Aviation.
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