The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Millbrook, Bedfordshire) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 15th Sept 26

Restricted the operation of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Millbrook, Bedfordshire, on 16 and 17 September 2026.

These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within a specified area of Millbrook, Bedfordshire, during 16 and 17 September 2026.

The restrictions apply to all drone operators, with exceptions only for flights authorized by the UTAC Security Manager at Millbrook Proving Ground or those conducted by UK Police air support units.

The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority established these limits to protect the public interest during the specified period.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest.
The Explanatory Note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that restricted airspace is required for safety or security in the specified vicinity.
The document provides a mechanism for authorized flight through permissions issued by the UTAC Security Manager, allowing for planned and vetted aerial activity.

Arguments Against

Operators of unmanned aircraft may face disruption to planned commercial or recreational activities within the specified coordinates and timeframes.
The restrictions rely on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which requires pilots to manually convert to British Summer Time (BST), potentially leading to timing errors in compliance.
The specific nature of the "public interest" mentioned is not detailed in the text, leaving the precise justification for the exclusion zone undisclosed to the general public.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Millbrook, Bedfordshire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 16th September 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. The rules take effect on 16 September 2026.

Interpretation

The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

This section clarifies the time standard used for the flight restrictions.

It specifies that Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the applicable standard, noting it is one hour behind local British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0600 hours and ending with 1600 hours on each of the two days of 16th and 17th September 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 520313N 0003156W,
(b) 520249N 0003134W,
(c) 520240N 0003130W,
(d) 520218N 0003137W,
(e) 520214N 0003149W,
(f) 520207N 0003148W,
(g) 520205N 0003205W,
(h) 520209N 0003208W,
(i) 520209N 0003222W,
(j) 520204N 0003225W,
(k) 520207N 0003319W,
(l) 520227N 0003311W, and
(m) 520313N 0003156W.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft-

(a) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the UTAC Security Manager at Millbrook Proving Ground, or
(b) operated by, or on behalf of, a UK Police air support unit.

This section defines a temporary no-fly zone for unmanned aircraft (drones) at heights below 1,500 feet within specified coordinates in Bedfordshire. The restriction is active between 06:00 and 16:00 UTC on 16 and 17 September 2026.

It grants exemptions for aircraft that have received specific permission from the Millbrook Proving Ground security manager or those operated by the police.

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