The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Yorkshire Wildlife Park, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unmanned aircraft from flying below 2,000 feet within a one-nautical-mile radius of Yorkshire Wildlife Park due to an emergency.
These Regulations establish an emergency restricted airspace around Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster to prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft.
The order forbids any unmanned aircraft from flying below 2,000 feet above mean sea level within a one-nautical-mile radius of the park's coordinates.
The restrictions apply to all drone operators except those flying under the specific direction of the South Yorkshire Police.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that an emergency has arisen in the specified area, making flight restrictions necessary in the public interest.
The Regulations aim to protect the area by prohibiting unauthorized unmanned aircraft from interfering with emergency response or safety operations.
The document states that the restrictions are temporary and will be revoked once the underlying emergency has passed.
Arguments Against
The specific nature of the emergency is not defined within the text, which may lead to uncertainty regarding the necessity or duration of the restrictions.
Unmanned aircraft operators may face immediate compliance challenges due to the regulations coming into force with immediate effect upon signing.
The restriction relies on South Yorkshire Police discretion for exemptions, which may lead to questions regarding the criteria for authorized flight.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Yorkshire Wildlife Park, South Yorkshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section provides the official name of the regulations and specifies their start date.
The rules became legally enforceable immediately at 4.30 p.m. on 10 October 2026.
Restricted airspace
- No unmanned 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 unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by South Yorkshire Police.
This section prohibits the flight of unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, within a specific geographic zone.
It sets a vertical limit of 2,000 feet above mean sea level and creates an exception for aircraft operating under the instructions of the South Yorkshire Police.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster, South Yorkshire | 1 nautical mile | 533027N 0010108W |
The Schedule defines the exact boundaries of the no-fly zone.
The restricted area covers a circle with a one-nautical-mile radius centered on the coordinates 53°30'27"N and 001°01'08"W at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
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