The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Middlesborough) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 4th Sept 26

Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft in two areas of Middlesbrough on 4 September 2026 for public safety and security.

These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft within two specific circular areas in Middlesbrough on 4 September 2026 between 0600 and 2000 UTC. The restrictions apply to all drone operators unless they have obtained specific permission from the Cleveland Police Drone Unit.

The order establishes two restricted zones with radii of 1.08 nautical miles, one capped at 1,200 feet and the other at 1,100 feet above mean sea level.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the measures are required for reasons of public safety and security.
The document cites the legal authority granted by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to impose such restrictions.

Arguments Against

Operators of unmanned aircraft may face disruption to planned activities within the 1.08 nautical mile radii specified.
The reliance on Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) may require operators to manually convert times to British Summer Time (BST) to ensure compliance.
The document does not specify the exact nature of the public safety event, which may lead to questions regarding the necessity of the specific geographic boundaries chosen.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Middlesborough) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 4th September 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the regulations.

It sets the date for the law to take legal effect as 4 September 2026.

Interpretation

The times referred to in regulation 3(1) and (2) 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 for the flight restrictions.

It specifies that all listed times use Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), noting that this is one hour behind British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the period beginning with 0600 hours and ending with 2000 hours on 4th September 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1.08 nautical miles which is centred at 543212N 0011432W.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), during the period beginning with 0600 hours and ending with 2000 hours on 4th September 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1.08 nautical miles which is centred at 543440N 0011022W.

(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with the permission of the Cleveland Police Drone Unit.

This section creates two temporary no-fly zones for drones and other unmanned aircraft on 4 September 2026.

The first zone extends to 1,200 feet above sea level around coordinates 543212N 0011432W, while the second zone extends to 1,100 feet around coordinates 543440N 0011022W.

Flight is permitted within these areas only if the operator has received explicit authorization from the Cleveland Police Drone Unit.

The restrictions are active for a 14-hour window starting at 06:00 UTC.

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