The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Syerston) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 7th Aug 26

Restricted flight operations within a 4-nautical-mile radius of RAF Syerston on 20 August 2026 for public safety during air displays.

These regulations establish a temporary restricted airspace around Royal Air Force Syerston to facilitate flying displays for the Royal Air Force Air Cadet National Air and Space Camp.

The order prohibits all aircraft from flying below 8,300 feet within a four-nautical-mile radius of the base on 20 August 2026, between 09:30 and 16:30 UTC. These restrictions apply to all civil and military pilots, except those granted explicit permission by designated display directors or air traffic service personnel.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to scheduled flying displays.
The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority state that high-energy manoeuvres performed during the Royal Air Force Air Cadet National Air and Space Camp necessitate these measures for public safety.
The regulations provide a mechanism for authorized aircraft to enter the zone via specific permission from the Flying Display Director or the Military Air Ground Communication Service.

Arguments Against

General aviation pilots and local airfield users may experience temporary loss of access to airspace within 4 nautical miles of the site.
Pilots operating in the area must ensure they use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) rather than British Summer Time (BST) to avoid accidental incursions, as the document notes the one-hour difference.
Flight schools or private operators in Nottinghamshire may need to reroute planned activities, potentially increasing fuel costs or transit times.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Syerston) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 20th August 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument and sets the date it becomes legally active. The regulations take effect on 20 August 2026.

Interpretation

In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

This section defines the time standard used for the flying restrictions.

It specifies that all listed times are in Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0930 hours and ending with 1630 hours on 20th August 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 8,300 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 4 nautical miles which is centred at 530120N 0005500W.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft operating in accordance with a permission issued by-

(a) the Royal Air Force Air Cadet National Air and Space Camp Flying Display Director, or
(b) the Military Air Ground Communication Service at Royal Air Force Syerston.

This section prohibits aircraft from entering a circular zone with a 4-nautical-mile radius around RAF Syerston, from the surface up to 8,300 feet above mean sea level.

The restriction is active on 20 August 2026 between 09:30 and 16:30 UTC.

Pilots are exempt from this prohibition if they receive direct authorization from either the Flying Display Director of the National Air and Space Camp or the Military Air Ground Communication Service at the base.

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