Established a temporary restricted flight zone below 3,000 feet around Dovestones Reservoir due to a local emergency.
The Secretary of State for Transport restricts all aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within a 2.5 nautical mile radius of Dovestones Reservoir, Manchester.
This measure addresses an unspecified emergency situation and applies to all civil and commercial aviation, with a specific exemption for unmanned aircraft operating under the direction of Derbyshire Police. The regulations take effect immediately to ensure public interest and safety within the designated restricted airspace.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency having arisen in the specified area.
The document states that the restrictions are intended to facilitate the management of the emergency by preventing interference from non-authorized aircraft.
Proponents of the measure, as outlined in the Explanatory Note, indicate that the restrictions are temporary and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
Arguments Against
Legal commentators might note that the document does not specify the exact nature of the emergency, leading to potential ambiguity regarding the necessity or duration of the flight ban.
Commercial or private pilots may argue that the immediate commencement of the regulations provides limited notice for aircraft already in flight or planning routes through the Manchester area.
The exemption for unmanned aircraft is contingent upon directions from Derbyshire Police, which may raise questions regarding the coordination between different jurisdictional authorities during the emergency response.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Dovestones Reservoir, Manchester) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section establishes the official title of the legal act for identification purposes.
It mandates that the restrictions become legally binding immediately upon the signing of the instrument on July 14, 2026.
Restricted airspace
No aircraft is to fly below 3,000 feet above mean sea level over the area specified in Column 1 of the Schedule, being an area bounded by a circle of the radius specified in Column 2 and centred on the position specified in Column 3.
These Regulations do not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Derbyshire Police.
The regulations prohibit all aircraft from entering the airspace below 3,000 feet within a 2.5 nautical mile radius of the coordinates 533044N 0015647W. This prohibition applies to both manned and unmanned craft, though it provides a specific exception for drones or other unmanned aircraft if they are being operated under the explicit instructions of the Derbyshire Police.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Dovestones Reservoir, Manchester | 2.5 nautical miles | 533044N 0015647W |
This schedule provides the precise geographical parameters for the flight restriction.
It defines the 'Specified area' as Dovestones Reservoir and sets the boundary as a circle with a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centered on the provided latitude and longitude coordinates.
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