The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (War Memorial Park, Coventry) Regulations 2026
This Statutory Instrument, The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (War Memorial Park, Coventry) Regulations 2026, imposes a temporary restriction on the operation of unmanned aircraft to ensure public safety during a large gathering, specifically the Coventry City Football Club Parade, on May 4, 2026; the regulation prohibits flights below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined area around War Memorial Park, Coventry, between 0900 and 2100 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time, although exceptions exist for flights authorized by the West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team.
Arguments For
Ensures public safety and security during a large public gathering, specifically the Coventry City Football Club Parade, by eliminating potential hazards from low-flying unmanned aircraft situated near the event area.
Utilizes existing regulatory powers under the Air Navigation Order 2016 to establish a temporary restricted zone necessary due to exceptional circumstances (a large crowd event).
Provides necessary operational control to law enforcement (West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team) to manage airspace and security risks during the event period.
Arguments Against
Temporarily suspends normal rights to operate unmanned aircraft within the defined airspace, creating restrictions on legitimate drone users such as commercial operators or hobbyists operating legally outside the restriction window.
The restriction is imposed using time-bound regulations, which, while temporary, necessitates communication (NOTAMs) and adherence, potentially causing minor disruption to local air traffic planning.
Restricting airspace requires coordination across multiple agencies (CAA, DfT, Police), creating an administrative overhead for a localized, single-day event.
2026 No. 464
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (War Memorial Park, Coventry) Regulations 2026
| Made - - - | 28th April 2026 | |---------------------|-------------------| | Coming into force - | 4th May 2026 |
This heading identifies the legal instrument as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 464, issued under the Civil Aviation category.
The regulations were formally made on April 28, 2026, and officially came into force shortly thereafter on May 4, 2026.
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
The Secretary of State determined that restrictions on unmanned aircraft flying were required for the public interest because a large number of people are scheduled to gather in the specified location.
The authority to create these rules stems from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (War Memorial Park, Coventry) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 4th May 2026.
This section establishes the official short title of the legislation as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (War Memorial Park, Coventry) Regulations 2026.
It confirms that the rules officially became effective on May 4, 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This clause defines how time measurements used within the regulation are to be interpreted.
It specifies that all times mentioned in Regulation 3(1), which outlines the restriction period, must be read according to Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0900 hours and ending with 2100 hours on 4th May 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-
- (a) 522402N 0013228W,
- (b) 522406N 0013137W,
- (c) 522405N 0013057W,
- (d) 522357N 0013016W,
- (e) 522350N 0013012W,
- (f) 522314N 0013020W,
- (g) 522230N 0013109W,
- (h) 522302N 0013250W, and
- (i) 522402N 0013228W.
( 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).
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with the permission of the West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team.
This core regulation establishes the restricted flight zone.
Between 0900 and 2100 UTC on May 4, 2026, no unmanned aircraft can fly below 1,400 feet above general ground level within the specific geographical area defined by the listed latitude and longitude coordinates, which outline the boundary near War Memorial Park, Coventry.
The restriction has an exception outlined in sub-paragraph (2): flights are permitted if they have express permission from the West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team.
Footnotes clarify that the powering legislation (S.I. 2016/765) has subsequent amendments and that UTC is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
28th April 2026
This confirms the document was formally signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport on April 28, 2026, authorizing the regulations.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of War Memorial Park, Coventry for the Coventry City Football Club Parade that is due to take place there on 4th May 2026. At the request of West Midlands Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted for reasons of public safety and security due to the intended gathering there of a large number of persons.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2), the West Midlands Police CounterUAS Team may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, contactable on telephone number 03301 382515.
Joe Thompson Senior Executive Officer Department for Transport
The explanatory note confirms the purpose: restricting unmanned aircraft near War Memorial Park, Coventry, for the Coventry City Football Club Parade on May 4, 2026, due to public safety concerns raised by the West Midlands Police. It reiterates that the times given are UTC (one hour behind BST) and directs interested parties to contact the West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team for specific permissions.
It also states that full details will be communicated via official aviation notices (NOTAMs) and provides contact information for the Civil Aviation Authority liaison, Mr. Thomas Shainberg.
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