Established emergency restricted airspace over Haytor, Devon, prohibiting flight below 3,500 feet without police authorization.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Haytor, Devon) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 establish a restricted airspace zone near Haytor, Devon, in response to an ongoing emergency.
The regulations prohibit all aircraft from flying below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within a two-nautical-mile radius of the specified coordinates, unless directed otherwise by Devon and Cornwall Police. These mandates apply to all civil and military aviation not specifically exempted by police authority and remain in effect until revoked.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency having arisen in the specified area.
The Explanatory Note states that the measures are intended to be of temporary duration and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
The document specifies that the restrictions do not apply to aircraft flying in accordance with directions from Devon and Cornwall Police, allows for emergency responder coordination.
Arguments Against
The regulations do not specify the exact nature of the emergency, which may lead to ambiguity regarding the necessity or duration of the flight restrictions.
General aviation operators and private pilots may experience disruption to planned flight paths within the two-nautical-mile radius designated by the order.
Legal scholars might note that the immediate commencement of the regulations provides no notice period for airspace users, though this is authorized for emergency situations under the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Haytor, Devon) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section establishes the formal title of the statutory instrument and mandates that its provisions become legally enforceable immediately upon its signing at 1:54 p.m. on 10th July 2026.
This removes the standard transition period typically required for new regulations due to the emergency nature of the document.
Restricted airspace
- No aircraft is to fly below 3,500 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 Devon and Cornwall Police.
Regulation 2 prohibits aircraft from entering territory below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the designated circular zone.
Mean sea level refers to the average height of the ocean surface used as a standard altitude reference.
Regulation 3 provides an exemption for aircraft operating under the specific instructions of Devon and Cornwall Police. This allows emergency services or authorized vehicles to continue operations within the restricted area.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |----------------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Haytor, Devon | 2 nautical miles | 503450N 0034443W |
This schedule defines the precise geographic boundaries where the flight restrictions apply.
It establishes a circular zone with a radius of two nautical miles centered at the coordinates 50°34'50"N and 003°44'43"W, located in Haytor, Devon.
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