The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 8) Regulations 2026
Established temporary restricted airspace zones across five English counties for a scheduled helicopter flight on 23 October 2026.
These Regulations prohibit aircraft from flying below specified altitudes within defined areas of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk on 23rd October 2026.
The restrictions facilitate a specific helicopter flight and apply to all civil aircraft, except those operated by emergency services, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, or The King’s Helicopter Flight.
Pilots may only enter the restricted zones if they receive explicit permission from designated Air Traffic Control units, such as those at Farnborough, Luton, or Cambridge Airports.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest because of an intended helicopter flight.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that these measures are required to avoid disruption to the flight in question.
The regulations utilize powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to ensure aviation safety and order during the event.
Arguments Against
Pilots and recreational airspace users may face localized travel disruptions due to the short-notice implementation of altitude limits between 2,500 and 4,000 feet.
General aviation operators must navigate complex geographic coordinates and varying time windows across five different counties, which may increase the risk of accidental incursions.
Legal scholars or affected parties might question the necessity of broad restricted corridors for a single helicopter movement compared to standard separation procedures.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Helicopter Flight) (No. 8) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 23rd October 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations.
It sets the date the rules become legally enforceable as 23rd 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 section defines the time standard used throughout the document.
It clarifies that all scheduled restrictions follow Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind local British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
3.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (12), during the period beginning with 1145 hours and ending with 1240 hours on 23rd 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) 515150.0N 0004336.0W,
- (ii) 515244.0N 0003828.0W,
- (iii) 514723.0N 0003601.0W,
- (iv) 513611.0N 0003622.0W, and
- (v) 513611.0N 0004133.0W,
- (b) the anti-clockwise arc of a circle having a radius of 12 nautical miles centred at 512812.0N 0002713.0W between 513611.0N 0004133.0W and 513201.0N 0004525.1W, and
- (c) straight lines joining successively the following points—
- (i) 513201.0N 0004525.1W,
- (ii) 513201.0N 0004536.0W
- (iii) 513803.0N 0004450.0W,
- (iv) 514226.0N 0004110.0W,
- (v) 514409.0N 0004005.0W, and
- (vi) 515150.0N 0004336.0W.
(2) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (12), during the period beginning with 1145 hours and ending with 1240 hours on 23rd 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) 515150.0N 0004336.0W,
- (b) 514409.0N 0004005.0W,
- (c) 514226.0N 0004110.0W,
- (d) 513803.0N 0004450.0W,
- (e) 514749.0N 0004354.0W, and
- (f) 515150.0N 0004336.0W.
(3) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (12), during the period beginning with 1145 hours and ending with 1240 hours on 23rd 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) 515445.0N 0004311.0W,
- (b) 515244.0N 0003828.0W,
- (c) 515150.0N 0004336.0W, and
- (d) 515445.0N 0004311.0W.
(4) Subject to paragraphs (10) and (12), during the period beginning with 1155 hours and ending with 1250 hours on 23rd 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) 520235.0N 0003305.0W,
- (b) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,
- (c) 515258.0N 0003709.0W,
- (d) 515244.0N 0003828.0W,
- (e) 515445.0N 0004311.0W,
- (f) 515535.0N 0004305.0W, and
- (g) 520235.0N 0003305.0W.
(5) Subject to paragraphs (10) and (12), during the period beginning with 1155 hours and ending with 1250 hours on 23rd 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) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,
- (b) 515941.0N 0002619.0W,
- (c) 515312.0N 0003549.0W,
- (d) 515258.0N 0003709.0W, and
- (e) 520038.0N 0002832.0W.
(6) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (12), during the period beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1300 hours on 23rd 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) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,
- (b) 520606.0N 0001712.0W,
- (c) 515941.0N 0002619.0W, and
- (d) 520038.0N 0002832.0W.
(7) Subject to paragraphs (11) and (12), during the period beginning with 1200 hours and ending with 1300 hours on 23rd 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) 522420.0N 0000020.0W,
- (b) 522105.0N 0000543.0E,
- (c) 520606.0N 0001712.0W,
- (d) 520038.0N 0002832.0W,
- (e) 520235.0N 0003305.0W, and
- (f) 522420.0N 0000020.0W.
(8) Subject to paragraph (11) and (12), during the period beginning with 1215 hours and ending with 1315 hours on 23rd 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 524904.0N 0002758.0E between 525002.0N 0002410.0E and 524736.0N 0003118.0E, and
- (b) straight lines joining successively the following points—
- (i) 524736.0N 0003118.0E,
- (ii) 522105.0N 0000543.0E,
- (iii) 522420.0N 0000020.0W, and
- (iv) 525002.0N 0002410.0E.
(9) Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by—
- (a) the Air Traffic Control unit at Farnborough Airport,
- (b) the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Northolt,
- (c) the Air Traffic Control unit at London Luton Airport, or
- (d) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick.
(10) Paragraphs (4) and (5) do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by—
- (a) the Air Traffic Control unit at Farnborough Airport,
- (b) the Air Traffic Control unit at London Luton Airport, or
- (c) the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick.
(11) Paragraphs (6) to (8) do not apply to any aircraft—
- (a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Sandringham House) (Restricted Zone EG R219) Regulations 2025(a), or
- (b) flying in accordance with a permission issued by—
- (i) the Air Traffic Control unit at Cambridge Airport,
- (ii) the Air Traffic Control unit at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, or
- (iii) the Royal Air Force Marham Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre (TATCC) East.
(12) Paragraphs (1) to (8) 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 eight specific geographic zones and the timeframes during which flight is restricted on 23rd October 2026.
Altitudes range from 2,500 feet to 4,000 feet above mean sea level.
The document lists several exceptions, including aircraft operated by the police, medical services, the Coastguard, and The King's Helicopter Flight.
Additionally, specific Air Traffic Control units at sites like Farnborough, Luton, and various RAF bases are authorized to grant individual permissions for aircraft to enter these restricted areas.
Related
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
Revoked the emergency flight restrictions in the vicinity of RAF Fairford with immediate effect.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Plymouth, Devon) (Emergency) Regulations 2026
Established an emergency restricted airspace for unmanned aircraft in Plymouth, Devon, effective immediately on 21 October 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drymen, Stirling, Scotland) (Emergency) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
Revoked emergency flight restrictions in the Drymen and Stirling area with immediate effect on 21 October 2026.
Read MoreThe Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil) Regulations 2026
Restricted the use of unmanned aircraft near Aberfan during the 60th anniversary memorial event on 21 October 2026.
Read More