Established an emergency no-fly zone for unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet within five nautical miles of RAF Lakenheath.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft at altitudes below 1,200 feet within a specified radius around RAF Lakenheath, Norfolk.
The restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft operators, except those flying under the specific direction of the RAF Lakenheath Air Traffic Control Unit.
This emergency measure takes effect immediately to address an unspecified emergency in the vicinity of the military installation.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency having 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 generally cite the need to ensure the safety of emergency services and military personnel by preventing interference from unauthorized unmanned aircraft.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars may note that the document does not specify the nature of the emergency, leading to potential ambiguity regarding the necessity or duration of the restrictions.
Operators of unmanned aircraft or commercial entities in the Norfolk area may face sudden disruptions to planned activities without prior notice due to the "immediate effect" commencement.
Civil liberties groups sometimes express concern over the broad use of emergency powers under the Air Navigation Order 2016 if the criteria for an "emergency" are not publicly defined.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (RAF Lakenheath, Norfolk) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section provides the official name of the regulations and mandates that they become legally enforceable at the moment of signing.
By coming into force with immediate effect at 5:40 p.m. on 9 November 2026, it bypasses the standard 21-day delay often applied to statutory instruments.
Restricted airspace
- No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 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 RAF Lakenheath Air Traffic Control Unit.
These sections prohibit drones and other unmanned aircraft from entering the airspace below 1,200 feet within a 5-nautical-mile radius of the specified coordinates at RAF Lakenheath.
It grants an exemption only to those operators who receive explicit flight instructions or permission from the military air traffic control unit at the base.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |-------------------------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | RAF Lakenheath, Norfolk | 5 nautical miles | 522433.85N 0003339.64E |
The schedule defines the exact geographical boundaries of the flight restriction using a central coordinate and a distance radius.
The restricted area covers a circle extending 5 nautical miles from the center point of RAF Lakenheath.
Related
The 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.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Tilbury Docks, Essex) Regulations 2026
Restricted the operation of unmanned aircraft near Tilbury Docks for a two-day multi-agency exercise in November 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Hampstead) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary restricted flying zone below 2,500 feet in the Hampstead area on the evening of 5 November 2026.
Read More