The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Coningsby) Regulations 2026 impose a temporary prohibition on aircraft flying below 8,000 feet above mean sea level within a 6 nautical mile radius centred at 530534N 0001000W, specifically between 1230 and 1330 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time on March 16, 2026.
This measure is enacted by the Secretary of State for Transport in the public interest to ensure safety during flying display rehearsals conducted by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, while permitting exceptions for aircraft authorized by designated Air Traffic Control units.
Arguments For
Ensuring public safety during high-energy flying display rehearsals by the Red Arrows, necessitating a controlled airspace.
Providing necessary legal authority under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to impose temporary restrictions for essential public interest activities.
Minimizing the risk of collisions or interference with specialized military training maneuvers through the establishment of a clear altitude and spatial boundary.
Establishing clear coordination mechanisms by exempting aircraft authorized by designated Air Traffic Control centres (Lincolnshire TATCC, RAF Coningsby, RAF Waddington).
Arguments Against
Imposing a non-standard temporary restriction on general civilian air traffic movements within the specified 6 nautical mile radius, potentially disrupting scheduled non-display flights.
Creating temporary operational constraints for local general aviation or commercial entities operating near the restricted zone on the specified date and time.
Requiring robust communication and adherence to the specified UTC time window (1230 to 1330 hours) which must be perfectly synchronized across all affected parties.
The need for authorization from specific military or regional air traffic controls introduces potential administrative bottlenecks for genuine emergency or essential low-level flights.
2026 No. 147
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Coningsby) Regulations 2026
Made
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20th February 2026
Coming into force
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16th March 2026
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended holding of flying display rehearsals that are scheduled to take place there.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
This section details the official citation information for the regulations, identifying them as Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 2026 No. 147, relating to Civil Aviation.
The document was formally made on February 20, 2026, and was scheduled to come into force a few weeks later on March 16, 2026.
The Secretary of State determined that restricting flight in a specific area was necessary for the public interest.
This necessity arises due to planned flying display rehearsals scheduled to occur in that same location.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Coningsby) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 16th March 2026.
The first regulation establishes the formal title by which these rules are known: The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Coningsby) Regulations 2026.
It confirms that the restrictions detailed become legally active on March 16, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This brief interpretation section clarifies the time standard used within the main restriction rule (Regulation 3(1)).
All times mentioned must be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2) beginning with 1230 hours and ending with 1330 hours on 16th March 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 8,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 6 nautical miles which is centred at 530534N 0001000W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft operating in accordance with the permission of-
- (a) the Lincolnshire Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC),
- (b) the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Coningsby, or
- (c) the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Waddington.
Paragraph 3(1) establishes the core restriction: Between 12:30 and 13:30 UTC on March 16, 2026, no aircraft may fly below 8,000 feet altitude.
This prohibition applies within a circular area defined by a 6 nautical mile radius centered at specific geographical coordinates (53°05'34"N, 00°01'00"W).
Paragraph 3(2) provides exceptions to this flight restriction.
The ban does not apply to any aircraft if it has received prior permission to operate from one of three specified authorities: the Lincolnshire Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC), the control unit at RAF Coningsby, or the control unit at RAF Waddington.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
20th February 2026
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
This concluding part shows the document was signed on February 20, 2026, by an authorized representative of the Secretary of State for Transport.
The footnotes provide legal context, referencing the primary legislation being used (the Air Navigation Order 2016) and clarifying that the time standard, UTC, is equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Royal Air Force Coningsby during flying display rehearsals by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, which are due to take place there on 16th March 2026.
Many aircraft will be involved in high energy manoeuvres during the displays and therefore the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of those rehearsals for reasons of public safety.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
In relation to the permissions mentioned in regulation 3(2), the Lincolnshire Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre, the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Coningsby and the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Waddington may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this statutory instrument will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 0330 1382471.
The Explanatory Note clarifies the purpose: imposing flight restrictions near RAF Coningsby for Red Arrows display rehearsals scheduled for March 16, 2026.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport support these restrictions due to public safety concerns arising from the high-energy maneuvers involved in the displays.
This note reiterates that UTC time is used and specifies that contact details for coordinating permissions under regulation 3(2) should be followed as notified.
It also confirms that complete operational details about this instrument will be publicized through standard aviation communication channels, specifically Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs), and provides a contact person at the Civil Aviation Authority for further inquiries.