The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
Restricted the use of drones and other unmanned aircraft near Murrayfield Stadium during a public event on 28 August 2026.
These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft within a specific radius of Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, on 28 August 2026.
The restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft flying below 1,600 feet above mean sea level between 15:00 and 22:30 UTC, unless they have obtained explicit permission from Police Scotland.
The Secretary of State issued this order to protect public safety during a scheduled large-scale gathering.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restriction is necessary in the public interest due to an intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The Explanatory Note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the measures are required for reasons of public safety and security.
The document cites article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 as the legal basis for exercising these powers to restrict flight.
Arguments Against
Recreational and commercial drone operators may cite the lack of specific details regarding the event in the document as a limitation on their planned activities in the Edinburgh area.
Legal analysts might note that the regulations grant Police Scotland discretionary power to permit flights, which could be perceived as lacking a standardized application process for affected operators.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 28th August 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations for legal referencing.
It sets the date the rules become legally active as 28 August 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 defines the time standard used for the flying restrictions.
It clarifies that all listed times are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which the document notes is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1500 hours and ending with 2230 hours on 28th August 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,600 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile whose centre is at 555632N 0031428W.
- (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with the permission of the Police Scotland Aviation Safety and Security Unit.
This section prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,600 feet within a one-nautical-mile radius of a specific coordinate at Murrayfield Stadium.
The ban is active from 15:00 to 22:30 UTC on 28 August 2026.
Operators may only fly within this restricted zone if they receive prior authorization from the Police Scotland Aviation Safety and Security Unit.
Related
The Social Security (Income and Capital Disregards) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Amended social security regulations to exclude Church of England abuse redress payments from income and capital assessments for means-tested benefits.
Read MoreThe Armed Forces (Service Complaints Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Updated the procedural rules and terminology for military service complaints and restricted certain appeal-related decisions from the grievance process.
Read MoreThe Armed Forces Commissioner Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026
Activated new service complaint procedures and technical terminology changes within the Armed Forces on 3 November 2026.
Read MoreThe Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026
Introduced benefit disregards for the Irish Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and increased fraud-related recovery rates for State Pension Credit.
Read More