The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Mall) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Mall) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 enact immediate, temporary prohibitions on the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,250 feet above mean sea level within a 1.25 nautical mile radius centred on The Mall in Harrow, valid for April 20, 2026, between 11:59 and 23:59 hours, unless specific permission is granted by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Arguments For
The immediate imposition of flight restrictions is necessary to address an emergency affecting the public interest in a specific area.
Restricting unmanned aircraft flight below 1,250 feet mitigates specific, identified risks associated with the emergency in that localized area.
The specified time window (11:59 to 23:59 on April 20, 2026) ensures the restrictions are temporary and precisely targeted to the duration required.
Exempting flights approved by the Metropolitan Police Service allows for necessary operational movements (e.g., by law enforcement or emergency services) within the restricted zone.
Arguments Against
The immediate imposition bypasses standard consultation processes, potentially limiting visibility for commercial drone operators or hobbyists operating legally nearby.
The restriction targets all 'unmanned aircraft' regardless of size or capability, which might be an overly broad measure for a highly localized emergency.
The specified location (Harrow) may cause disruption to routine commercial drone operations in the immediate vicinity outside the 1.25 nautical mile radius.
The necessity of imposing the restriction is only summarily stated 'by reason of an emergency,' potentially lacking transparency regarding the specific nature of the public interest threat.
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2026 No. 429
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Mall) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Made ----at 08.30 a.m. on 20th April 2026
Coming into force with immediate effect
The Secretary of State for a reason affecting the public interest deems it necessary to restrict flying in the area specified in the Schedule by reason of an emergency having arisen in that area.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
This instrument establishes emergency flight restrictions for civil aviation, specifically numbered 2026 No. 429.
The Secretary of State enacted these rules at 08:30 a.m. on April 20, 2026, with immediate effect due to an emergency deemed to affect the public interest in the specified area.
The authority to create these regulations comes from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
The location targeted for these restrictions is detailed later in the Schedule forming part of this Instrument.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Mall) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section provides the official title by which the Regulations will be referenced: The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Mall) (Emergency) Regulations 2026.
Crucially, the regulations become legally effective immediately upon their making.
Restricted airspace
- Beginning with 1159 hours and ending with 2359 hours on 20th April 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,250 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.
- Paragraph (2) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Metropolitan Police Service.
This mandates that no unmanned aircraft (drones, etc.) can fly below 1,250 feet above sea level during a specific time frame: 11:59 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on April 20, 2026.
The prohibited area is defined geometrically (a circle using radius and centre coordinates) as listed in the Schedule.
However, this restriction does not apply to any unmanned aircraft that has received explicit flying permission from the Metropolitan Police Service. This allows essential police or emergency operations to proceed within the restricted zone.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
At 08:30 a.m. on 20th April 2026
Valerie Meeham Senior Executive Officer Department for Transport
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
This certifies the document was signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport at 8:30 a.m. on April 20, 2026, by an authorized officer from that Department.
A footnote references the primary legislation being amended or operated under, citing S.I. 2016/765 and a relevant amendment from S.I. 2024/990.
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |---------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | The Mall, Harrow, HA3 9TE | 1.25 nautical miles | 513454N 0001622W |
This table specifies the exact geographical area subject to the flight restrictions.
The area covers The Mall in Harrow (postcode HA3 9TE).
This area is defined as a circle with a radius of 1.25 nautical miles, centered at the precise geographical coordinates 51 degrees 34 minutes 54 seconds North latitude and 0 degrees 16 minutes 22 seconds West longitude.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions of an emergency nature on flying in the area specified in the Schedule for the duration specified in the Regulations.
The Explanatory Note confirms the purpose of the legal instrument, clarifying that it is not technically part of the binding regulations themselves.
It states that the rules establish emergency restrictions on aircraft flying within the location defined in the Schedule for the time period set out.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
This section heading introduces the Schedule, which contains the mandatory details referenced by Regulation 2 concerning the restricted airspace, essentially pointing back to Table 1 for the geographical and time parameters.
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