The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 immediately restrict all aircraft from flying lower than 2,000 feet above mean sea level over a defined area in Southway, Plymouth, using powers derived from the Air Navigation Order 2016 due to an emergency affecting the public interest, with an exception granted only for aircraft operating under directions from the Devon & Cornwall Police Counter UAS Team.
Arguments For
Public safety and emergency management are prioritized by rapidly establishing a restricted no-fly zone around an incident in Southway, Plymouth.
The swift implementation, effective immediately upon making, ensures rapid containment of potential hazards or operational constraints related to the unspecified emergency.
Limiting flight altitude to below 2,000 feet over a defined 0.5 nautical mile radius minimizes interference with necessary emergency response air operations.
Arguments Against
The regulations impose significant, albeit temporary, limitations on the freedom of navigation for all aircraft operating near Plymouth without publicly specifying the nature of the 'emergency' justifying the action.
The immediate effect and broad scope of restricting flights below 2,000 feet could disrupt local aerial work, private flights, or air ambulance routes if exceptions are not clearly managed.
Over-reliance on emergency powers for operational restrictions, even if temporary, could set a precedent for undue limitation of airspace access if justification details are vague.
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2026 No. 481
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Made ----at 2.08 p.m. on 30th April 2026
Coming into force with immediate effect
The Secretary of State for a reason affecting the public interest deems it necessary to restrict flying in the area specified in the Schedule by reason of an emergency having arisen in that area.
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 establishes the legal instrument as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 481, concerning Civil Aviation.
The regulations, named the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) Regulations 2026, were officially made at 2:08 p.m. on April 30, 2026, and they took effect instantly.
The Secretary of State invoked powers because an emergency, judged to affect the public interest, arose in the specified area, necessitating the restriction of flying activities there.
The authority for 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) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section provides the official short title for the legal text.
The Regulations are officially cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Southway, Plymouth) (Emergency) Regulations 2026, and they become legally binding immediately upon being made.
Restricted airspace
- No aircraft is to fly below 2,000 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 aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Devon & Cornwall Police Counter UAS Team.
Regulation 2 prohibits any aircraft from flying below an altitude of 2,000 feet above sea level within the geographic area detailed in the accompanying Schedule.
This area is defined by a 0.5 nautical mile radius circle centered at a specific latitude and longitude.
Regulation 3 creates an exemption to this general flight ban.
The restriction does not apply to any aircraft that is operating under specific instructions issued by the Devon & Cornwall Police Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Team.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
At 2.08 p.m. on 30th April 2026
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
This confirms the signing authority for the Regulations, issuing them on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport at the specified time and date by an authorized Grade 7 official from the Department for Transport.
A footnote cross-references the primary legislation being amended or exercised, the Air Navigation Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/765), and notes a relevant amendment from 2024.
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |--------------------|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Southway, Plymouth | 0.5 nautical mile | 502550N 0040728W |
This table precisely defines the restricted area as mandated by the Regulations.
The specified area is Southway, Plymouth, restricted by a circle with a radius of 0.5 nautical miles.
The exact center point for this restriction is specified using geographic coordinates: 50 degrees 25 minutes 50 seconds North latitude and 0 degrees 4 minutes 7 seconds West longitude.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions of an emergency nature on flying in the area specified in the Schedule. They are intended to be of temporary duration and will be revoked as soon as the emergency in question has passed.
The explanatory note clarifies that the text itself does not form part of the legal regulations.
It confirms that the primary function of the instrument is to establish temporary, emergency-based flight restrictions within the defined location.
The note states the intention is to remove these restrictions as soon as the emergency situation that necessitated them is resolved.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
This heading indicates the start of the Schedule, which contains the mandatory details referenced in Regulation 2 regarding the location and dimensions of the restricted airspace.
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