The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Victory Show, Cosby) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Victory Show, Cosby) Regulations 2026 enforce temporary limitations on aircraft operations below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within a 3.5 nautical mile radius centred at 523314N 0011234W between September 4th and September 6th, 2026, specifically to ensure public safety during flying displays scheduled at The Victory Show in Cosby.
Arguments For
Ensuring public safety during flying displays involving high-energy manoeuvres by aircraft.
Maintaining necessary safety buffers around an organized public event where air traffic patterns are specialized.
Utilizing existing executive powers granted under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016, which is the established legal mechanism for such temporary restrictions.
Arguments Against
Imposing operational constraints and potential disruption on general low-altitude flight paths in the specified area during the event dates.
Creating administrative complexity for pilots needing to understand and adhere to specific time windows (UTC) and geographic boundaries.
The necessity of the restriction relies on coordination between the Cosby Flying Display Directors, introducing points of potential communication failure if not managed robustly.
2026 No. 619
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Victory Show, Cosby) Regulations 2026
Made
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10th June 2026
Coming into force
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4th September 2026
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended holding of flying displays that are scheduled to take place there.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
These are the 2026 Statutory Instrument No. 619 concerning Civil Aviation, titled The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Victory Show, Cosby) Regulations 2026.
The regulations were made on June 10th, 2026, and came into force on September 4th, 2026.
The Secretary of State invoked powers under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 because holding flying displays at the specified location necessitates restricting aerial activity in the public interest.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (The Victory Show, Cosby) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 4th September 2026.
The first regulation establishes the official short title for this legislation.
It confirms that the restrictions imposed by these regulations become legally effective on September 4th, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This short rule clarifies that any times mentioned later in Regulation 3, specifically within sub-paragraph (2), must be understood as being measured in Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 3.5 nautical miles which is centred at 523314N 0011234W.
(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-
- (a) 1100 hours and end with 1800 hours on 4th September 2026,
- (b) 0700 hours and end with 2030 hours on 5th September 2026, and
- (c) 0700 hours and end with 1800 hours on 6th September 2026.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft-
- (a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) Regulations 2023( c ), or
- (b) operating in accordance with a permission issued by-
(i) the Cosby Flying Display Director, or
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
( c ) S.I. 2023/1101.
(ii) the Cosby Deputy Flying Display Director.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
10th June 2026
This main provision restricts aircraft from flying below 4,000 feet above the average sea level within a specific circular area defined by a 3.5 nautical mile radius, centred at coordinates 52 degrees 33 minutes 14 seconds North latitude and 001 degree 12 minutes 34 seconds West longitude.
This restriction is only active during defined time windows: 11:00 to 18:00 on September 4th; 07:00 to 20:30 on September 5th; and 07:00 to 18:00 on September 6th, 2026, according to UTC time.
Exceptions exempt aircraft if flying is already banned under separate regulations concerning prisons or young offender institutions, or if the aircraft has received explicit permission from either the Cosby Flying Display Director or the Deputy Display Director.
The section notes that UTC is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of The Victory Show, Cosby, Leicestershire during flying displays for the public that are scheduled to take place there on 4th to 6th September 2026, inclusive.
Many aircraft will be involved in high energy manoeuvres during the displays and therefore the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of the displays for reasons of public safety.
These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1101).
The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3)(a) and (b) the Cosby Flying Display Director and Cosby Deputy Flying Display Director may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the regulations restrict flying near The Victory Show in Cosby, Leicestershire between September 4th and 6th, 2026, due to safety concerns arising from high-energy aircraft manoeuvres during public displays.
The restrictions exclude areas already covered by flight prohibitions related to prisons and young offender facilities.
It reiterates that times are UTC (one hour behind BST) and directs interested parties regarding contacts for the Display Directors.
The note confirms that full operational details are communicated via official aviation notices (AIC and NOTAM) and provides an emergency contact point within the Civil Aviation Authority for airspace regulation issues.
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