The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Rali Ceredigion) Regulations 2026

Published: Wed 2nd Sept 26

Established temporary no-fly zones and altitude limits across Ceredigion to manage airspace safety during the 2026 Rali Ceredigion motor rally.

These Regulations establish temporary restricted airspace around various locations in Wales to facilitate the Rali Ceredigion motor rally between 3 September and 6 September 2026.

The order prohibits aircraft from flying below specified altitudes within defined radii of rally sites, including Aberystwyth, Cwm Elan, and Gorsgoch, unless authorized by the designated Air Co-ordinator.

These restrictions apply to all civil aircraft but exempt emergency services, police air support, and coastguard operations.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the Rali Ceredigion event.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree restrictions are required for public safety due to high spectator volumes.
The document cites the presence of multiple aircraft types, including those for filming, data relay, and official transport, as a justification for managing the airspace.
Implementation is authorized under article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.

Arguments Against

Legal scholars might note that the Schedule contains a potential clerical error, citing a date in 2025 for the first Aberystwyth entry despite the Regulations commencing in 2026.
Pilots and local operators may face disruption due to the multiple overlapping circular restricted areas across different altitudes and time windows.
The requirement to obtain permission specifically from the "Air Co-ordinator Rali Ceredigion" places discretionary power in the hands of a private event official for access to public airspace.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Rali Ceredigion) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 3rd September 2026.

This section provides the official name of the regulations.

It establishes that the legal requirements take effect on 3 September 2026.

Interpretation

In the Schedule the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

This section defines the time standard used throughout the document's schedule.

It clarifies that all listed times are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which the document notes is one hour behind British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the periods specified in column 5 of the Schedule, no aircraft is to fly below the corresponding altitude specified in column 3 of the Schedule within the area bounded by a circle having a radius specified in column 4 of the Schedule centred at the point specified in column 2 of the Schedule.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft-

(a) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Air Co-ordinator Rali Ceredigion, or
(b) operated by or on behalf of-
(i) a Police Air Support Unit,
(ii) an Emergency Medical Service, or
(iii) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

This section prohibits aircraft from entering the specific zones and altitudes listed in the Schedule during the times mentioned.

It creates exceptions for aircraft that have received explicit permission from the event's Air Co-ordinator.

Additionally, it exempts police, medical emergency, and coastguard aircraft from these restrictions.

SCHEDULE

Regulation 3(1)

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | |---|---|---|---|---| | Place | Area (Centre of Circle) | Altitude (Above mean sea level) | Radius (Nautical Miles) | Period | | Aberystwyth | 522423N 0040416W | 1,900 feet | 0.6 | Beginning with 1500 hours and ending with 1800 hours on 3rd September 2025, beginning with 1700 hours and ending with 2000 hours on 4th September 2026, and beginning with 1700 hours and ending with 1830 hours on 5th September 2026. | | Elerch | 522834N 0035618W | 2,500 feet | 2 | Beginning with 1900 hours and ending with 2230 hours on 4th | | Blaenmelindwr | 522557N 0035311W | 3,200 feet | 2.5 | September 2026. Beginning with 0800 hours and ending with 1300 hours on 3rd September 2026, and beginning with 1900 hours and ending with 2230 hours on 4th | | Aberffrwd | 522150N 0035202W | 2,900 feet | 3 | September 2026. Beginning with 0700 hours and ending with 1030 hours, and beginning with 1230 hours and ending with 1530 hours on 5th | | Soar y Mynydd | 520958N 0034641W | 3,500 feet | 4.5 | September 2026. Beginning with 0800 hours and ending with 1100 hours, and beginning with 1330 hours and ending with 1630 hours on 5th September 2026. | | Cwm Elan | 522049N 0033856W | 3,200 feet | 4 | Beginning with 1000 hours and ending with 1300 hours, and beginning with 1530 hours and ending with 1830 hours on 5th September 2026. | | Gorsgoch | 520856N 0041529W | 2,600 feet | 4 | Beginning with 0630 | | Ty Glyn | 521309N 0040958W | 2,600 feet | 2.5 | September 2026. Beginning with 0730 hours and ending with 1030 hours, and beginning with 1230 hours and ending with 1530 hours on 6th | | Aberystwyth (Service Park) | 522411N 0040328W | 1,800 feet | 0.25 | September 2026. Beginning with 0530 hours and ending with 1930 hours on each of the four days beginning with 3rd September 2026 and ending with 6th September 2026. |

This table lists the specific geographic coordinates, maximum altitudes, and time windows for each no-fly zone.

It covers locations including Aberystwyth, Elerch, Blaenmelindwr, Aberffrwd, Soar y Mynydd, Cwm Elan, Gorsgoch, and Ty Glyn.

The restrictions are active at various intervals between 3 September and 6 September 2026, with altitudes ranging from 1,800 to 3,500 feet above mean sea level.

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