The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Middlesborough) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an emergency restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft over Middlesborough effective 22 August 2026.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft at altitudes below 1,000 feet within a specified radius in Middlesborough.
The Secretary of State issued these rules in response to an ongoing emergency to protect the public interest.
The restrictions apply to all unmanned aircraft operators, with the exception of those flying under the specific direction of Cleveland Police.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency having arisen in the area.
The document states that the restrictions are intended to be temporary and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
Proponents may argue that the measure ensures the safety of emergency operations by preventing interference from unauthorized unmanned aircraft.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars may note that the regulations do not define the specific nature of the "emergency," leaving the justification for the restriction non-transparent.
Affected parties, such as commercial drone operators, may face immediate disruption to planned activities due to the "immediate effect" commencement without prior notice.
The scope of the restriction depends on the discretion of Cleveland Police, which may lead to ambiguity regarding which flights are permitted under their direction.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Middlesborough) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section provides the official name of the regulations.
It establishes that the rules become legally binding immediately upon their signing at 7:55 a.m. on 22 August 2026.
Restricted airspace
No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,000 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 unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Cleveland Police.
This section prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying lower than 1,000 feet within the designated circular zone around Middlesborough.
It grants Cleveland Police the authority to exempt specific unmanned aircraft from this prohibition by providing them with directions.
The restriction relies on mean sea level as the vertical reference point for the altitude limit.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |----------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Middlesborough | 1.61 nautical miles | 543424N 0010922W |
The schedule defines the exact geographical boundaries of the restricted flight zone.
The restriction covers a radius of 1.61 nautical miles centered at coordinates 54°34'24"N and 001°09'22"W in Middlesborough.
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