Prohibited unauthorized flight below 9,500 feet within a five-nautical-mile radius of RAF Fairford due to an emergency.
These Regulations establish a temporary restricted airspace around RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire following an unspecified emergency.
The order prohibits all aircraft from flying below Flight Level 95 (approximately 9,500 feet) within a five-nautical-mile radius of the base, unless they are operating under the direction of the Royal Air Force Brize Norton Air Traffic Control Unit.
These rules apply to all civilian and unauthorized military aircraft and took effect immediately at 3:30 p.m. on 30 September 2026.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency that has arisen in the area.
The document states that the measures are intended to be temporary and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
Proponents of such measures argue that restricting non-essential air traffic ensures the safety of emergency operations and prevents interference with ground-based responses.
Arguments Against
Critics often note that emergency flight restrictions can disrupt scheduled commercial and private aviation operations with little to no notice.
Legal observers may point out that the document does not specify the nature of the emergency, leading to a lack of transparency regarding the justification for the restriction.
Small airfield operators or private pilots in Gloucestershire may experience logistical difficulties due to the immediate commencement of the exclusion zone.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations.
It mandates that the legal restrictions take effect immediately upon the signing of the document on 30 September 2026.
Restricted airspace
- No aircraft is to fly below Flight Level 95( b ) 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 aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by the Royal Air Force Brize Norton Air Traffic Control Unit.
( b ) 'Flight Level' as defined under Schedule 1 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |---|---|---| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire | 5 nautical miles | 514100.66N 0014724.02W |
This section creates a circular no-fly zone with a 5-nautical-mile radius centered on RAF Fairford.
It prohibits flight below Flight Level 95, which refers to a standard pressure altitude of 9,500 feet.
An exemption is provided for aircraft that receive specific instructions or clearance from the Air Traffic Control Unit at RAF Brize Norton.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
The schedule provides the geographical parameters for the flight restriction.
It specifies the center point of the exclusion zone using precise latitude and longitude coordinates at RAF Fairford.
Related
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Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (RAF Mildenhall, Norfolk) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an emergency no-fly zone for unmanned aircraft within five nautical miles of RAF Mildenhall.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (RAF Feltwell, Norfolk) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an emergency restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft around RAF Feltwell with immediate effect on 9 November 2026.
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