The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Virginia Water, Surrey) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,300 feet near Virginia Water during the 2026 PGA Championship.
These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,300 feet above mean sea level in a specified area around Virginia Water, Surrey, between 14 September and 20 September 2026.
The restrictions apply daily from 0400 to 2100 hours UTC to coincide with the PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club.
The order exempts aircraft operated by police air support units and those granted specific permission by the event's safety officers or controller.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons at the site.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport consider the measures necessary for reasons of public safety and security.
The document provides a mechanism for authorized flight through a permission system managed by event safety officials, allowing for legitimate drone use.
Arguments Against
Local hobbyists or commercial drone operators not affiliated with the event may be inconvenienced by the seven-day restriction on airspace usage.
The reliance on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) in the text, which is one hour behind British Summer Time, could lead to confusion regarding the exact start and end times of the daily restrictions for the general public.
The geographical boundaries are defined solely by coordinates, which may be difficult for casual operators to interpret without specialized mapping tools.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Virginia Water, Surrey) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 14th September 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations.
It sets the date the legal restrictions begin as 14 September 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
This section clarifies that all times mentioned in the document use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
It notes that UTC is one hour behind British Summer Time, the local time in effect during the restricted period.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0400 hours and ending with 2100 hours on each of the seven days beginning with 14th September 2026 and ending with 20th September 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight line joining successively the following points-
- (a) 512307N 0003531W,
- (b) 512315N 0003444W,
- (c) 512332N 0003428W,
- (d) 512341N 0003435W,
- (e) 512414N 0003530W,
- (f) 512415N 0003537W,
- (g) 512415N 0003546W,
- (h) 512405N 0003614W,
- (i) 512325N 0003713W, and
- (j) 512307N 0003531W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft-
- (a) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the PGA Championship Event Safety Officer, Deputy Safety Officer or Event Controller, or
- (b) operated by, or on behalf of, a police air support unit.
This section mandates a flight ban for unmanned aircraft, such as drones, below 1,300 feet within a specific boundary defined by ten geographic coordinates.
The restriction is active daily from 0400 to 2100 UTC throughout the week of 14 to 20 September 2026.
It excludes police aircraft and any drones that have received explicit authorization from the PGA Championship's safety or control staff.
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