The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Middlesborough) (Emergency) (No.2) Regulations 2026
Established a temporary restricted flight zone for unmanned aircraft in Middlesborough due to an emergency.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft at altitudes below 1,000 feet above mean sea level within a specified circular zone in Middlesborough.
The restriction applies to all drone operators, except those acting under the specific direction of Cleveland Police. The Secretary of State for Transport issued these measures in response to an unspecified emergency to protect the public interest.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to an emergency having arisen in the specified area.
The explanatory note states that the measures are intended to be temporary and will be revoked once the emergency has passed.
Proponents may argue that the 1,000-foot ceiling and 1.61 nautical mile radius provide a necessary safety buffer for emergency responders on the ground or in the air.
Arguments Against
The regulations do not specify the nature of the "emergency," which may lead to concerns regarding the transparency of the restriction's justification.
Legal observers might note that the immediate commencement gives no prior notice to drone operators, potentially leading to inadvertent non-compliance.
The document grants Cleveland Police sole discretion to authorize flights, which could be questioned by commercial operators requiring access for non-emergency purposes.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Middlesborough) (Emergency) (No.2) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section provides the official name of the regulations for legal referencing.
It mandates that the rules become legally enforceable at the moment of signing at 4:21 p.m. on 27 August 2026.
Restricted airspace
No unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,000 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 of the centre of the circle (latitude and longitude).
These Regulations do not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Cleveland Police.
These sections prohibit drones and other unmanned aircraft from entering the airspace below 1,000 feet within the designated emergency area.
The restriction applies to the geographical coordinates and radius defined in the Schedule.
An exemption is provided for flights explicitly authorized or directed by Cleveland Police.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |----------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Middlesborough | 1.61 nautical miles | 543424N 0010922W |
The Schedule defines the exact boundaries of the restricted airspace.
The zone extends 1.61 nautical miles from the center point located at latitude 543424N and longitude 0010922W in Middlesborough.
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