The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aldershot, Hampshire) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 18th Jun 26

Establishes a temporary restricted airspace zone in Aldershot, Hampshire, on June 27 and June 28, 2026, to coincide with National Armed Forces Day celebrations.

It prohibits the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within defined coordinates between 0600 and 1700 UTC. The regulations apply to all unmanned aircraft operators, though they allow for flights authorized by the Hampshire and Thames Valley Police JOU C-UAV Team.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest because of the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the measures are required for reasons of public safety and security.
The document specifies that the restrictions are timed to coincide with the National Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Arguments Against

Operators of unmanned aircraft may cite the restriction as a limitation on the use of airspace for recreational or commercial purposes during the specified period.
Civil liberties or privacy advocates might question the necessity of specific police-controlled exemptions or the precise geographical scope of the restricted zone.
Pilots of unmanned systems must account for the use of Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) in the regulations, which differs from British Summer Time (BST), potentially leading to timing errors in compliance.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aldershot, Hampshire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 27th June 2026.

Establishes the official title of the regulations.

Sets the date on which the legal requirements become active as June 27, 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).

Defines the time standard for the regulations as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).

It clarifies that this standard is one hour behind British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 0600 hours and ending with 1700 hours on both the 27th and 28th June 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by the following points-

(a) 511648N 0004518W,
(b) 511653N 0004402W,
(c) 511632N 0004351W,
(d) 511601N 0004338W,
(e) 511534N 0004401W,
(f) 511520N 0004419W,
(g) 511503N 0004450W,
(h) 511515N 0004627W,
(i) 511607N 0004734W, and
(j) 511648N 0004518W.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Hampshire and Thames Valley Police JOU C-UAV Team.

Prohibits unmanned aircraft from entering a specific geographic area near Aldershot below an altitude of 1,400 feet during specified daytime hours.

This restriction applies to all unmanned flights except those granted explicit permission by the Hampshire and Thames Valley Police Joint Operations Unit Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle team.

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