Restricted the flying of unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet near Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, between 22 and 26 September 2026 for national defence reasons.
These Regulations prohibit unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within a specified area around Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
The restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft operators from 22 September 2026 to 26 September 2026, unless they obtain permission from the Ministry of Defence Police or are already subject to existing airspace restrictions for nuclear installations or military prohibited places.
Arguments For
The legislation states that restricting unmanned aircraft is necessary in the public interest for reasons of national defence.
Proponents, including the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport, agree that the flight restrictions are required in the vicinity of Barrow-in-Furness.
The order provides a mechanism for authorized operations, specifying that flights may proceed if they obtain a permission issued by the Ministry of Defence Police.
Arguments Against
Operators of unmanned aircraft may face operational disruptions due to the complete flight prohibition within a 4 nautical mile radius.
The restrictions could complicate amateur or commercial drone operations in the specified area if coordination with the Ministry of Defence Police is delayed.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Barrow-inFurness, Cumbria) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 22nd September 2026.
This section establishes the official title of the regulations as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria) Regulations 2026.
It mandates that the rules take legal effect on 22nd September 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This section defines the time standard used in the regulations.
It requires that all operational times mentioned be interpreted according to Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0001 hours on 22nd September 2026 and ending with 2259 hours on 26th September 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 4 nautical miles which is centred at 540301N 0031407W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft-
- (a) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Ministry of Defence Police, or
- (b) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016( c ) and the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026( d ).
This section prohibits the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within a 4 nautical mile radius centered at specific geographical coordinates near Barrow-in-Furness.
The restriction applies from 0001 hours on 22nd September 2026 until 2259 hours on 26th September 2026.
It exempts flights authorized by the Ministry of Defence Police and avoids conflict with preexisting restrictions governing nuclear installations and military prohibited places.
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