The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Cosford Airshow) Regulations 2026
These Regulations establish a temporary, restricted flight zone around the Royal Air Force Cosford site in Shropshire to ensure public safety during scheduled flying displays set to take place from June 12th to June 14th, 2026, by prohibiting aircraft from flying below 5,300 feet above mean sea level within a 6 nautical mile radius of the centre point, except for aircraft operating under specific permissions granted by air traffic control or the Airshow Flying Display Director.
Arguments For
Ensuring public safety on the ground and in the air by preventing unauthorized, low-level or high-energy aircraft from interfering with the scheduled flying displays.
Enabling the controlled execution of complex manoeuvres by display aircraft, which require a clear operational airspace corridor.
Upholding the authority of the Flying Display Director and Air Traffic Control units (RAF Shawbury and RAF Cosford) to manage airspace during the event.
Arguments Against
Temporarily restricting the freedom of navigation for general aviation and other aircraft requiring access to the airspace immediately surrounding RAF Cosford during the specified dates.
Potential minor inconvenience or necessary route diversion for local air traffic operating under routine permissions.
The need to strictly adhere to UTC timings, which adds a layer of complexity for pilots needing to correlate precise times against local time zones (BST).
2026 No. 496
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Cosford Airshow) Regulations 2026
| Made - - - | 7th May 2026 | |---------------------|----------------| | Coming into force - | 12th June 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 there of flying displays.
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 identifies the instrument as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 496 concerning Civil Aviation and details its formal title.
The Regulations were made on May 7th, 2026, and officially commence on June 12th, 2026.
The Secretary of State authorized these restrictions because flying displays are scheduled, deeming it necessary for the public interest.
The authority for creating these rules comes from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Cosford Airshow) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 12th June 2026.
This first operative regulation formally names the document as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Cosford Airshow) Regulations 2026.
It confirms that the restrictions legally begin to apply on June 12th, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This clarifies that all time references used within Regulation 3, specifically when detailing the restricted periods, are to be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no aircraft is to fly below 5,300 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 6 nautical miles which is centred at 523824N 0021819W.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-
- (a) 1300 hours and end with 1700 hours on each of the two days beginning with 12th June 2026 and ending with 13 June 2026, and
- (b) 1000 hours and end with 1700 hours on 14th June 2026.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the-
- (a) air traffic control unit at Royal Air Force Shawbury,
- (b) air traffic control unit at Royal Air Force Cosford, or
- (c) Royal Air Force Cosford Airshow Flying Display Director.
Paragraph (1) establishes the core restriction: no aircraft can fly below 5,300 feet above mean sea level within a 6 nautical mile radius centered at the specified coordinates (523824N 0021819W).
This restriction is conditional upon the times detailed in paragraph (2), and exceptions listed in paragraph (3).
Paragraph (2) defines these restricted times.
On June 12th and 13th, 2026, the restriction covers the hours between 13:00 UTC and 17:00 UTC. On June 14th, 2026, the restriction applies between 10:00 UTC and 17:00 UTC.
Paragraph (3) lists the specific entities authorized to grant exemptions to the restriction.
These are the air traffic control units at RAF Shawbury and RAF Cosford, or the designated Flying Display Director for the Cosford Airshow.
( 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 one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
This provides footnotes.
Footnote (a) details the primary legislation being amended or operated under (The Air Navigation Order 2016).
Footnote (b) explicitly states that Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
7th May 2026
This confirms the document was signed on May 7th, 2026, acting under the formal authority delegated by the Secretary of State for Transport.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Royal Air Force Cosford, Shropshire, during flying displays that are due to take place there on 12th to 14th July 2026, inclusive.
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 the displays for reasons of public safety.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3)(c), the Royal Air Force Cosford Airshow Flying Display Director 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 03301 382471.
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the document restricts flying near RAF Cosford, Shropshire, for events scheduled on July 12th to 14th, 2026 (Note: The dates mentioned here conflict with the commencement dates in Regulation 1 and 3(2), suggesting a potential discrepancy in the drafting of the explanatory note regarding the event dates vs. the effective dates of the instrument).
The restriction is implemented due to high-energy maneuvers during displays, supported by agreement between the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Department for Transport (DfT) based on public safety concerns.
It reiterates that the specified times are UTC, which is one hour behind BST. It also directs interested parties on how to contact the Flying Display Director for permissions and names a CAA contact, Mr. David Ridley.
Finally, it states that full details will be shared via official aviation briefings and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).
Related
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
The Secretary of State revoked the emergency flying restrictions previously imposed over the Southway, Plymouth area via a prior statutory instrument.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bristol) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
The Secretary of State imposed immediate, temporary flying restrictions below 3,500 feet over a specified one-mile radius near Bristol due to a public interest emergency, effective May 3rd, 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Headcorn) Regulations 2026
The Secretary of State made regulations imposing temporary flight restrictions below 3,500 feet around Headcorn Aerodrome for flying displays scheduled from June 26th to June 28th, 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
The Secretary of State made emergency regulations immediately restricting non-exempted aircraft flight below 2,000 feet over a circular area centered on Southway, Plymouth.
Read More