The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bedford, Bedfordshire) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 14th Jul 26

Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft in specified Bedford airspace during July 18–19, 2026, to ensure public safety during a large event.

These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet above mean sea level in a specified area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, on July 18 and 19, 2026.

The restrictions apply to all unmanned aircraft pilots and operators, except those who receive explicit permission from the Bedford Borough Council Events Management Team.

The Secretary of State for Transport issued these measures to manage airspace safety during a planned mass gathering of people.

Arguments For

The document states that the Secretary of State deems these restrictions necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The Explanatory Note asserts that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the restrictions are required for reasons of public safety and security.
The regulations provide a mechanism for authorized flight, allowing the Bedford Borough Council Events Management Team to grant permissions for specific unmanned aircraft operations.

Arguments Against

Legal scholars may note that the regulations rely on precise geographical coordinates and UTC timing, which could lead to accidental non-compliance by recreational operators unfamiliar with aviation standards.
Civil liberties advocates might question the necessity of restricting all unmanned aircraft in a specific area, arguing it could impact independent filming or observation of the public gathering.
Affected parties, such as commercial drone operators, may face logistical difficulties if the permission process through the local council is not clearly defined or timely.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bedford, Bedfordshire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 18th July 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument and identifies July 18, 2026, as the date the law takes effect.

It provides the legal reference for the specific restrictions.

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).

This provision defines the time standard used throughout the document for setting the restriction windows.

It clarifies that Co-ordinated Universal Time is the benchmark, which is one hour behind local British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0400 hours and ending with 2200 hours on each of the two days of 18th and 19th July 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by the following points-

(a) 520841N 0002843W,
(b) 520841N 0002653W,
(c) 520830N 0002608W,
(d) 520800N 0002558W,
(e) 520730N 0002604W,
(f) 520720N 0002730W,
(g) 520725N 0002828W,
(h) 520741N 0002908W,
(i) 520808N 0002908W, and
(j) 520841N 0002843W.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Bedford Borough Council Events Management Team.

This section creates a temporary prohibited zone for unmanned aircraft (such as drones) between 04:00 and 22:00 UTC on July 18 and 19, 2026.

It forbids flying below 1,200 feet within the specific coordinates listed, unless the operator has received prior authorization from the Bedford Borough Council Events Management Team.

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