The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Llanelli, Carmarthenshire) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary no-fly zone for drones in Llanelli on 20 November 2026 to protect public safety during a large gathering.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft at or below 1,400 feet within a specific one-nautical mile radius of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. The restriction applies during the afternoon and evening of 20 November 2026 to coincide with the Llanelli Christmas Carnival.
The order applies to all drone operators, except those who obtain explicit permission from the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Co-ordinator.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to an intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that the measure is required for reasons of public safety and security.
The instrument provides a mechanism for authorized flight through a permission system managed by the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Co-ordinator.
Arguments Against
Operators of unmanned aircraft may face restricted access to airspace they would otherwise be permitted to use.
The efficacy of the restriction depends on the ability of Dyfed-Powys Police to monitor and enforce the 1-nautical mile radius in real-time.
The document does not specify the exact nature of the "safety and security" risks, relying instead on a general public interest justification.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Llanelli, Carmarthenshire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 20th November 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets their effective date.
The rules become legally active on 20 November 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b).
This section defines the time standard for the flying restrictions.
It specifies that all noted times use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is currently equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Restricted airspace
3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1500 hours and ending with 2300 hours on 20th November 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile which is centred at 514054N 0040950W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft being flown in accordance with a permission issued by the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Co-ordinator.
This section creates a circular no-fly zone for drones with a one-nautical mile radius centered on specific coordinates in Llanelli.
The restriction is active between 15:00 and 23:00 UTC on 20 November 2026 and applies to any unmanned aircraft flying lower than 1,400 feet above mean sea level.
It grants an exemption for aircraft that have received prior authorization from the Dyfed-Powys Police Airspace Co-ordinator.
This allows for official or pre-approved drone flights to continue despite the general prohibition.
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