The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Auchterarder, Scotland) Regulations 2026
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,700 feet above mean sea level within a specified area of Auchterarder, Scotland, from 20 July to 26 July 2026.
This restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft, except those granted specific permission by the Gleneagles Senior Open event safety staff.
The Secretary of State for Transport issued these rules under the Air Navigation Order 2016 to manage safety and security risks associated with the large crowds expected at the Gleneagles Senior Open golf tournament.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons at the location.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that the measure is required for reasons of public safety and security.
The regulations provide a mechanism for authorized flight through a permission system managed by event safety officials.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars or drone operators might argue that the coordinates-based definition of airspace is difficult for recreational users to interpret without specialized mapping tools.
Civil liberties groups sometimes raise concerns regarding the necessity of blanket bans on unmanned aircraft for sporting events when existing laws already govern reckless endangerment.
Affected parties may find the reliance on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) confusing, as it differs from the local British Summer Time (BST) in effect during the event.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Auchterarder, Scotland) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 20th July 2026.
This section establishes the formal title of the statutory instrument and sets the date it becomes legally effective. The regulations begin on 20 July 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This provision clarifies that all time references in the document use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
This standard is one hour behind British Summer Time, which will be the local time in Scotland during the effective 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 20th and ending with 26th July 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,700 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by the following points-
- (a) 561634N, 0034702W,
- (b) 561650N, 0034651W,
- (c) 561652N, 0034546W,
- (d) 561656N, 0034440W,
- (e) 561648N, 0034418W,
- (f) 561644N, 0034403W,
- (g) 561638N, 0034408W,
- (h) 561627N, 0034412W,
- (i) 561619N, 0034420W,
- (j) 561627N, 0034541W,
- (k) 561634N, 0034702W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying with a permission issued by the Gleneagles Senior Open Event Safety Officer, Deputy Safety Officer or Event Controller.
This section prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,700 feet within a specific geographical area defined by eleven sets of coordinates.
The ban is active daily between 04:00 and 21:00 UTC throughout the week of 20–26 July 2026.
Exemptions are permitted only for aircraft that receive explicit authorization from designated event safety officials or the event controller.
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