The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Pontypridd, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 2,900 feet within 4.3 nautical miles of Pontypridd to facilitate emergency response operations.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 2,900 feet above mean sea level within a specified radius of Pontypridd, South Wales.
The Secretary of State issued these restrictions under the Air Navigation Order 2016 in response to an active emergency in the area.
The flight ban applies to all drone operators, except those acting under the specific direction of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and remains in effect until the emergency is deemed to have passed.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency having arisen in the Pontypridd area.
The document states that the restrictions are intended to be temporary and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
The regulations allow for continued operation of unmanned aircraft if they are flying in accordance with directions from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, suggesting a need for coordinated emergency response.
Arguments Against
The regulations do not specify the nature of the emergency, which may lead to uncertainty for local residents and aircraft operators regarding the duration of the flight ban.
Operators of unmanned aircraft for commercial or journalistic purposes may be restricted from accessing the area unless they obtain specific directions from the fire service.
The immediate commencement of the regulations provides no notice period for recreational or commercial drone users who may have been planning flights within the 4.3 nautical mile radius.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Pontypridd, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations and mandates that they become legally binding as soon as they are signed.
Immediate commencement allows the flight restrictions to be enforced without the standard delay period often associated with new legislation.
Restricted airspace
- No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 2,900 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 South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |-------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Pontypridd, South Wales | 4.3 nautical miles | 513608N 0032030W |
These sections define the boundaries of the restricted airspace and the scope of the prohibition.
Unmanned aircraft are barred from flying below 2,900 feet within a 4.3 nautical mile radius centered on specific coordinates in Pontypridd.
An exemption is provided for drones operating under the instruction of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. This allows the emergency services to use unmanned aircraft for situational awareness or rescue efforts while excluding unauthorized civilian or commercial drone traffic from the same airspace.
Related
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dowlais, South Wales) (Emergency) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
Established an emergency restricted airspace zone for unmanned aircraft near Dowlais, South Wales, effective 15 August 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Llantrisant, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an immediate no-fly zone for drones below 1,500 feet in a 0.54 nautical mile radius around Llantrisant due to an emergency.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Blaenavon, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary no-fly zone for drones below 2,900 feet in the Blaenavon area to facilitate emergency response operations.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ferndale, South Wales) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an immediate no-fly zone for drones within a specified radius of Ferndale to support emergency operations.
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