The Secretary of State for Transport establishes a restricted flying zone in the vicinity of Elstow, Bedfordshire, in response to an ongoing emergency.
The regulations prohibit all aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within a three-nautical-mile radius of the specified coordinates, unless directed by the British Transport Police. These rules apply to all civil and military aviation operators not explicitly exempted by police direction.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that a restriction on flying is necessary in the public interest due to an emergency that has arisen in the Elstow area.
The explanatory note states that these emergency restrictions are intended to be temporary and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
The regulations provide an exception for aircraft flying under the direction of the British Transport Police, facilitating official response efforts.
Proponents may argue that clear airspace below 3,000 feet is required to ensure the safety of emergency operations and to prevent interference from unauthorized aircraft.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars might note that the regulations do not define the specific nature of the "emergency," leaving the justification for the restriction opaque to the public.
Pilots and aviation organizations may experience disruption to planned flight paths within the three nautical mile radius of the specified coordinates.
Affected parties might point to the "immediate effect" of the commencement as providing limited notice for aircraft already in transit or planning to use the airspace.
The duration of the restriction is not specified in the text, depending instead on a future decision by the Secretary of State to revoke the instrument.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Elstow, Bedfordshire) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section establishes the official title of the legal instrument.
It mandates that the regulations become legally enforceable the moment they are made.
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 aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by the British Transport Police.
This section prohibits flight below an altitude of 3,000 feet within the designated geographic area.
It also grants the British Transport Police the authority to permit specific aircraft to operate within the restricted zone, creating a conditional exemption for authorized activities.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Elstow, Bedfordshire | 3 nautical miles | 520600N 0002853W |
The schedule defines the exact spatial boundaries of the flight restriction.
It specifies a circular zone with a radius of three nautical miles centered at the geographic coordinates 520600N 0002853W in Elstow, Bedfordshire.
Related
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Chelmsford) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
Removed emergency flight restrictions in the Chelmsford area with immediate effect on 7 August 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Wychnor) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an emergency no-fly zone below 2,300 feet around Wychnor starting 6 August 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Sherburn-in-Elmet Air Race) Regulations 2026
Restricted flying in the vicinity of Sherburn-in-Elmet Aerodrome during specific windows on 22nd and 23rd August 2026 to facilitate a Royal Aero Club Air Race.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Syerston) Regulations 2026
Restricted flight operations within a 4-nautical-mile radius of RAF Syerston on 20 August 2026 for public safety during air displays.
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