These regulations establish temporary restricted airspace in parts of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire on 27 July 2026 to facilitate a specific helicopter flight.
The order prohibits aircraft from flying below 4,000 feet in one designated area between 12:35 and 13:35 UTC, and below 2,500 feet in a second area between 12:50 and 13:55 UTC. These restrictions apply to all civil and military aircraft, except for those operated by the King’s Helicopter Flight, emergency services, or those flying with explicit permission from designated air traffic control units.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary in the public interest to ensure an intended helicopter flight proceeds without disruption.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that these measures are required to maintain safety and avoid interference during the flight's transit.
The regulations are established under the existing legal authority of article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Arguments Against
General aviation pilots or commercial operators may experience temporary transit delays or be required to reroute around the specified coordinates during the restricted windows.
The reliance on coordinate-based boundaries and Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) rather than local time may require precise navigation and planning by pilots to ensure compliance.
The restrictions are subject to narrow time windows, which could be impacted if the flight's schedule changes unexpectedly due to weather or technical factors.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 6) Regulations 2026, and they come into force on 27th July 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. The regulations take effect on 27 July 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3 the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
This section clarifies that all times listed in the document follow Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
This means that the actual local time in the UK (British Summer Time) is one hour later than the times specified in the text.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (5), during the period beginning with 1235 hours and ending with 1335 hours on 27th July 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-
- (a) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 523854.00N 0003302.00E between 524000.05N 0002920.88E and 523748.14N 0003643.08E, and
- (b) straight lines joining successively the following points-
- (i) 523748.14N 0003643.08E
- (ii) 520433.44N 0000117.39E,
- (iii) 520132.85N 0000034.08E,
- (iv) 520005.14N 0000758.52W,
- (v) 520612.73N 0000631.87W, and
- (vi) 524000.05N 0002920.88E.
(2) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), during the period beginning with 1250 hours and ending with 1355 hours on 27th July 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 2,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-
- (a) straight lines joining successively the following points-
- (i) 520005.14N 0000758.52W,
- (ii) 520132.85N 0000034.08E,
- (iii) 514550.00N 0000316.00W,
- (iv) 513436.47N 0000613.50W, and
- (v) 513445.24N 0001107.85W,
- (b) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 12 nautical miles centred at 512812.00N 0002713.00W between 513445.24N 0001107.85W and 513611.00N 0001253.00W,
- (c) straight lines joining successively the following points-
- (i) 513611.00N 0001253.00W,
- (ii) 513611.00N 0001359.00W,
- (iii) 515016.98N 0001034.58W, and
- (iv) 515042.00N 0000931.00W,
- (d) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 8 nautical miles centred at 515228.67N 0002206.40W between 515042.00N 0000931.00W and 515402.75N 0000927.02W, and
- (e) straight lines joining successively the following points-
- (i) 515402.75N 0000927.02W, and
- (ii) 520005.14N 0000758.52W.
(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by-
- (a) the Air Traffic Control Unit at Royal Air Force Marham,
- (b) the Royal Air Force Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (East),
- (c) the Air Traffic Control Unit at Royal Air Force Lakenheath,
- (d) the Air Traffic Control Unit at Cambridge Airport,
- (e) Farnborough Radar,
- (f) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick, or
- (g) Royal Air Force 78 Squadron, Swanwick.
(4) Paragraph (2) does not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by-
- (a) the Air Traffic Control Unit at London Luton Airport,
- (b) Farnborough Radar,
- (c) the Air Traffic Control Unit at Royal Air Force Northolt,
- (d) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick, or
- (e) Royal Air Force 78 Squadron, Swanwick.
(5) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to any aircraft operated by or on behalf of-
- (a) The King's Helicopter Flight,
- (b) a Police Air Support Unit,
- (c) an Emergency Medical Service, or
- (d) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
This section defines the geographical boundaries and altitude limits for two restricted flight zones on 27 July 2026.
The first zone (active 12:35–13:35 UTC) restricts flight below 4,000 feet, while the second zone (active 12:50–13:55 UTC) restricts flight below 2,500 feet.
Several exceptions are provided: aircraft may enter these zones if they receive permission from specified Air Traffic Control units, such as RAF Marham, Cambridge Airport, or London Luton Airport.
Furthermore, the restrictions do not apply to The King's Helicopter Flight or aircraft operated for police, medical, or maritime search and rescue emergencies.
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