The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 7) Regulations 2026

Published: Tue 20th Oct 26

Established temporary restricted airspace across various English and Welsh counties on 21 October 2026 to facilitate a specific helicopter flight.

These Regulations prohibit aircraft from flying below specified altitudes—ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 feet above mean sea level—within designated areas across southern England and parts of Wales on 21 October 2026.

The restrictions apply in ten time-bound phases to accommodate a specific helicopter flight, covering regions including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and several Welsh counties.

The rules apply to all civilian aircraft except those operated by emergency services, the King's Helicopter Flight, 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 because of an intended helicopter flight taking place on the specified date.
The document states that the Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport agree the measures avoid disruption to the flight.
Proponents would argue the regulations provide a legal framework for aviation safety by centralizing air traffic control permissions under specified units like Swanwick and Cardiff Airport during the event.

Arguments Against

Pilots and general aviation operators may face increased operational complexity due to the ten distinct geographical zones and varying time windows throughout the day.
The reliance on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) rather than British Summer Time (BST) could lead to scheduling errors for local operators if not carefully cross-referenced with the explanatory note.
Small airfield operators within the affected circles (such as those with a 1 or 2.5 nautical mile radius) may experience temporary limitations on their flight paths or training activities.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 7) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 21st October 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. The regulations take effect on 21 October 2026.

Interpretation

In Regulation 3 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 provision clarifies that all times listed in the document follow Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).

It notes that UTC is one hour behind the local British Summer Time (BST) used in the United Kingdom during October.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (11) and (15), during the period beginning with 0935 hours and ending with 1030 hours on 21st October 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) 513359.00N 0005516.00W, and
(ii) 513452.02N 0004945.13W,
(b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles centred at 513642.00N 0004830.00W between 513452.02N 0004945.13W and 513526.90N 0004600.00W,
(c) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 513526.90N 0004600.00W, and
(ii) 513611.00N 0004133.00W,
(d) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 12 nautical miles centred at 512812.00N 0002713.00W between 513611.00N 0004133.00W and 513156.86N 0004527.70W,
(e) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles centred at 513002.37N 0004629.40W between 513156.86N 0004527.70W and 512947.90N 0004940.30W, and
(f) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 512947.90N 0004940.30W,
(ii) 512856.00N 0005516.00W, and
(iii) 513359.00N 0005516.00W.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (15), during the period beginning with 0935 hours and ending with 1030 hours on 21st October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 513314.00N 0010000.00W,
(b) 513359.00N 0005516.00W,
(c) 512856.00N 0005516.00W,
(d) 512813.00N 0010000.00W, and
(e) 513314.00N 0010000.00W.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (15), during the period beginning with 0945 hours and ending with 1045 hours on 21st October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 513755.00N 0020554.00W, and
(ii) 513734.93N 0020224.49W,
(b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile centred at 513757.00N 0020055.00W between 513734.93N 0020224.49W and 513719.16N 0015940.31W,
(c) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 513719.16N 0015940.31W, and
(ii) 513534.13N 0014141.82W,
(d) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile centred at 513614.00N 0014030.00W between 513534.13N 0014141.82W and 513522.10N 0013941.90W, and
(e) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 513522.10N 0013941.90W,
(ii) 513204.00N 0010716.00W,
(iii) 513314.00N 0010000.00W,
(iv) 512813.00N 0010000.00W,
(v) 512705.00N 0010722.00W,
(vi) 513259.00N 0020654.00W, and
(vii) 513755.00N 0020554.00W.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (15), during the period beginning with 1000 hours and ending with 1110 hours on 21st October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 514409.65N 0031938.80W,
(ii) 513755.00N 0020554.00W,
(iii) 513259.00N 0020654.00W, and
(iv) 513913.55N 0032045.00W, and
(b) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 514143.00N 0032028.00W between 513913.55N 0032045.00W and 514409.65N 0031938.80W.

(5) Subject to paragraphs (12) and (15), during the period beginning with 1155 hours and ending with 1255 hours on 21st October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 514325.38N 0032324.00W, and
(ii) 520630.10N 0025104.00W,
(b) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 520450.00N 0024803.00W between 520630.10N 0025104.00W and 520307.37N 0024506.00W,
(c) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 520307.37N 0024506.00W, and
(ii) 514026.03N 0031701.00W, and
(d) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 514143.00N 0032028.00W between 514026.03N 0031701.00W and 514325.38N 0032324.00W.

(6) Subject to paragraphs (13) and (15), during the period beginning with 1320 hours and ending with 1425 hours on 21st October 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 520450.00N 0024803.00W between 520317.43N 0025114.10W and 520559.00N 0024427.18W,
(b) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 520559.00N 0024427.18W, and
(ii) 512653.63N 0020335.18W,
(c) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 512523.00N 0020646.00W between 512653.63N 0020335.18W and 512416.42N 0021020.60W, and
(d) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 512416.42N 0021020.60W, and
(ii) 520317.43N 0025114.10W.

(7) Subject to paragraphs (14) and (15), during the period beginning with 1400 hours and ending with 1455 hours on 21st October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by-

(a) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 512752.10N 0020622.85W,
(ii) 513000.00N 0013701.00W,
(iii) 512506.00N 0013531.00W, and
(iv) 512254.91N 0020609.95W, and
(b) the clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 512523.00N 0020646.00W between 512254.91N 0020609.95W and 512752.10N 0020622.85W.

(8) Subject to paragraphs (14) and (15), during the period beginning with 1410 hours and ending with 1500 hours on 21st October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 4,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 513000.00N 0013701.00W,
(b) 513204.00N 0010716.00W,
(c) 513314.00N 0010000.00W,
(d) 512813.00N 0010000.00W,
(e) 512705.00N 0010722.00W,
(f) 512506.00N 0013531.00W, and
(g) 513000.00N 0013701.00W.

(9) Subject to paragraphs (14) and (15), during the period beginning with 1415 hours and ending with 1505 hours on 21st October 2026, no aircraft is to fly below 3,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 513314.00N 0010000.00W,
(b) 513359.00N 0005516.00W,
(c) 512856.00N 0005516.00W,
(d) 512813.00N 0010000.00W, and
(e) 513314.00N 0010000.00W.

(10) Subject to paragraphs (14) and (15), during the period beginning with 1420 hours and ending with 1510 hours on 21st October 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) 513359.00N 0005516.00W, and
(ii) 513452.02N 0004945.13W,
(b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 513642.00N 0004830.00W between 513452.02N 0004945.13W and 513526.90N 0004600.00W,
(c) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 513526.90N 0004600.00W, and
(ii) 513611.00N 0004133.00W,
(d) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 12 nautical miles centred at 512812.00N 0002713.00W between 513611.00N 0004133.00W and 513156.86N 0004527.70W,
(e) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles centred at 513002.37N 0004629.40W between 513156.86N 0004527.70W and 512947.90N 0004940.30W, and
(f) straight lines joining successively the following points-
(i) 512947.90N 0004940.30W,
(ii) 512856.00N 0005516.00W, and
(iii) 513359.00N 0005516.00W.

(11) Paragraphs (1) to (4) do not apply to any aircraft-

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Highgrove House) (Restricted Area EG R105) Regulations 2018( a ), the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026( b ), the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023( c ) or the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016( d ), or
(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by-
(i) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick,
(ii) the Air Traffic Control unit at Farnborough Airport,
(iii) the Royal Air Force Brize Norton Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) South, or
(iv) the Air Traffic Control unit at Cardiff Airport.

(12) Paragraph (5) does not apply to any aircraft-

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026, or
(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Air Traffic Control unit at Cardiff Airport.

(13) Paragraph (6) does not apply to any aircraft-

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026 or the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Raymill House, Lacock) (Restricted Area EG R106) Regulations 2021( a ), or
(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by-
(i) the Air Traffic Control unit at Cardiff Airport, or
(ii) the Royal Air Force Brize Norton Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) South.

(14) Paragraphs (7) to (10) do not apply to any aircraft-

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Raymill House, Lacock) (Restricted Area EG R106) Regulations 2021 or the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026, or
(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by-
(i) the Royal Air Force Brize Norton Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) South,
(ii) the Air Traffic Control unit at Farnborough Airport, or
(iii) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick.

(15) Paragraphs (1) to (10) do not apply to any aircraft-

(a) operated by or on behalf of-
(i) the King's Helicopter Flight,
(ii) a Police Air Support Unit,
(iii) an Emergency Medical Service, or
(iv) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, or
(b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by Royal Air Force 78 Squadron, Swanwick.

This section outlines ten specific geographical areas and timeframes where flight is restricted on 21 October 2026.

Altitudes for these restrictions range from 2,500 feet to 4,000 feet above mean sea level.

The regulation prohibits aircraft from entering these zones during the specified hours unless they meet certain criteria.

Exemptions are provided for aircraft already restricted by other existing regulations concerning royal residences, prisons, or nuclear sites.

Permission to fly within the restricted zones may be granted by specific air traffic control units, such as those at Cardiff Airport, Farnborough, or RAF Brize Norton.

Furthermore, aircraft operated by the police, medical services, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, or the King's Helicopter Flight are not subject to these restrictions.

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