The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil) Regulations 2026
Restricted the use of unmanned aircraft near Aberfan during the 60th anniversary memorial event on 21 October 2026.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft, commonly known as drones, within a specified radius of Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil, on 21 October 2026.
The restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft flying below 2,600 feet above mean sea level within a 1.5 nautical mile radius of the memorial event, unless specifically permitted by the South Wales Police. The Department for Transport issued these rules to manage airspace safety and security during the 60th anniversary commemorations of the Aberfan disaster.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest to ensure public safety and security during the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that the volume of persons or the nature of the event requires the exclusion of unmanned aircraft from the specified airspace.
The Regulations provide a mechanism for authorized flight, allowing the South Wales Police Special Events Support Unit to grant permissions for specific unmanned aircraft operations.
Arguments Against
Operators of unmanned aircraft may seek clarification on the specific boundaries, as the restrictions are defined by geographic coordinates and nautical miles rather than landmarks.
Recreational and commercial drone pilots may face disruption to planned activities within the 1.5 nautical mile radius of the memorial site.
The reliance on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) in the text requires pilots to manually convert to British Summer Time (BST) to avoid accidental non-compliance.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 21st October 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument.
It sets the date the regulations become legally active as 21 October 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This section clarifies that all times mentioned in the document are in Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Because the event occurs in October, UTC is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0600 hours and ending with 1700 hours on 21st October 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 2,600 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1.5 nautical miles which is centred at 514130N 0032057W.
- (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the South Wales Police Special Events Support Unit.
This section prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying within a 1.5 nautical mile radius of the specified coordinates in Aberfan between 06:00 and 17:00 UTC on 21 October 2026.
The restriction applies from ground level up to an altitude of 2,600 feet above mean sea level.
Flight within this zone is permitted only if the operator has obtained prior authorization from the South Wales Police Special Events Support Unit.
This exception allows for official or emergency use of drones that would otherwise be barred by the regulation.
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