The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (National Eisteddfod, Wales) Regulations 2026
Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft near the National Eisteddfod in Cardigan to ensure public safety during the large-scale gathering.
These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,700 feet within a one-nautical-mile radius of Cardigan, Wales, during the 2026 National Eisteddfod.
The restriction applies daily from 07:00 to 22:59 UTC between 30 July and 9 August 2026.
The mandate applies to all unmanned aircraft, unless the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Coordinator grants specific flight permission.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the gathering of a large number of persons at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that the measure is required for reasons of public safety and security.
The regulations establish a designated restricted area and altitude to manage airspace around the event site.
Provisions are included to allow for authorized flight through a permission system managed by the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Coordinator.
Arguments Against
Recreational and commercial drone operators may face limitations on their ability to use airspace in the Cardigan and Ceredigion area for the duration of the eleven-day event.
The reliance on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) rather than British Summer Time (BST) in the regulatory text may require careful interpretation by pilots to ensure compliance with the specific daily time windows.
The effectiveness of the restriction depends on the successful dissemination of information via NOTAMs and Briefing Sheets to local operators who may not be part of professional aviation networks.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (National Eisteddfod, Wales) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 30th July 2026.
This section establishes the official title of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. The rules take effect on 30 July 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This section specifies that all time references in the document use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
In practice, this means the restrictions begin and end one hour later according to British Summer Time (BST).
Restricted airspace
- —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0700 hours and ending with 2259 hours on each of the eleven days beginning with 30th July 2026 and ending with 9th August 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,700 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile which is centred at 520302N 0044205W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Coordinator.
This section creates a restricted flight zone with a one-nautical-mile radius around a specific geographic coordinate near Cardigan.
It prohibits unmanned aircraft, such as drones, from flying lower than 1,700 feet above mean sea level within this area during the specified 11-day period.
Pilots may only bypass this restriction if they have obtained prior authorization from the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Coordinator.
This allows for official or emergency flights while restricting general unmanned aviation.
Related
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