The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Blackpool) Regulations 2026
Prohibited unauthorized flight below 5,000 feet near Blackpool seafront during scheduled air displays on 8 and 9 August 2026.
These Regulations establish a temporary restricted airspace over the Blackpool seafront to facilitate public flying displays on 8 and 9 August 2026.
The order prohibits any aircraft from flying below 5,000 feet within a specified 2 nautical mile radius unless authorized by the Flying Display Director.
These rules apply to all civilian and military aircraft operators, with enforcement powers derived from the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to scheduled flying displays.
The Explanatory Note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that restrictions are required for public safety because involved aircraft will perform high-energy manoeuvres.
The Regulations establish a clear 2 nautical mile radius and 5,000-foot altitude ceiling to segregate display aircraft from other air traffic.
Provisions are included to allow permitted flights, ensuring that the restriction does not obstruct aircraft specifically authorized by the Blackpool Seafront Flying Display Director.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars or pilots might note that temporary airspace restrictions rely on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which requires pilots to manually adjust for British Summer Time (BST), potentially leading to timing errors.
General aviation stakeholders could argue that the 5,000-foot vertical limit and 2 nautical mile radius restrict transit through coastal corridors for pilots not participating in the event.
The effectiveness of the restriction depends on the timely dissemination of information via Aeronautical Information Circulars and NOTAMs to all affected airspace users.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Blackpool) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 8th August 2026.
This section provides the official name for the legal instrument.
It sets the date the flight restrictions become active as 8 August 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
This section defines the time standard used throughout the document.
It clarifies that all listed times follow Co-ordinated Universal Time, which is one hour earlier than the local British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1700 hours on each of the two days beginning with 8th August 2026 and ending with 9th August 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 5,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles which is centred at 534856N 0030325W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft operating in accordance with a permission issued by the Blackpool Seafront Flying Display Director.
This section creates a circular zone of restricted airspace centered on a specific coordinate at Blackpool seafront.
It prohibits any aircraft from entering this zone below an altitude of 5,000 feet between 12:00 and 17:00 UTC on the specified dates.
The restriction applies to all aircraft except those that have received express permission from the designated Flying Display Director.
This allows display participants and emergency services to operate within the restricted zone while excluding general air traffic.
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