The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Principality Stadium, Cardiff) (No. 2) Regulations 2026
Restricted the use of unmanned aircraft near the Principality Stadium in Cardiff during a large public gathering on 16 August 2026.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 16 August 2026.
The restriction applies below 1,100 feet above mean sea level between 12:00 and 17:30 UTC to ensure public safety during a planned mass gathering.
The South Wales Police Drone Team is authorized to grant exemptions to this flight ban.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest because a large number of people are expected to gather at the site.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that the measure is 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
Licensed drone operators or commercial photographers may be unable to operate in the central Cardiff area during the specified window without explicit police permission.
Aviation groups have previously noted that short-term restrictions can create confusion for recreational users if communication through Briefing Sheets and NOTAMs does not reach all pilots.
The use of Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) rather than local British Summer Time (BST) in the regulatory text may lead to timing errors by members of the public.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Principality Stadium, Cardiff) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 16th August 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active as 16 August 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This section specifies that all times mentioned in the flight restrictions use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
In August, this is one hour behind local British Summer Time (BST).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1730 hours on 16th August 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile which is centred at 512842N 0031057W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply-
- (a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023( c ), or
- (b) to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the South Wales Police Drone Team.
This section creates a temporary no-fly zone for drones within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of the specified coordinates in Cardiff from 12:00 to 17:30 UTC. The ban applies to all unmanned aircraft flying lower than 1,100 feet above mean sea level.
Airmen are exempt from these specific rules if they are already covered by existing prison flight restrictions or if they have obtained written permission from the South Wales Police Drone Team.
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