Established an emergency restricted flight zone up to 3,000 feet above mean sea level near Chipping Ongar, Essex.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 establish a restricted flight zone around Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar, to manage an active emergency.
The order prohibits all aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within a 2-nautical-mile radius of the specified coordinates, unless directed otherwise by the Essex Police. These restrictions apply to all civilian and military aircraft operators not specifically authorized by the designated police force.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary for reasons affecting the public interest due to an emergency having arisen in the specified area.
The Regulations state that the measures are intended to be of temporary duration to be revoked once the emergency has passed.
Proponents of such measures generally indicate that restricted airspace ensures the safety of emergency services and prevents non-essential aircraft from interfering with response operations.
Arguments Against
Legal commentators might note that the document does not specify the exact nature of the emergency, leading to potential ambiguity regarding the necessity of a 2-nautical-mile radius.
General aviation operators may express concern regarding the immediate commencement of the regulations, which limits the time available for pilots to adjust flight plans.
Parties affected by the restrictions may question the lack of a specific expiration date, as the document provides for revocation only when the emergency is deemed to have passed by the Secretary of State.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar) (Emergency) Regulations 2026 and come into force with immediate effect.
This section provides the official title of the regulations and specifies that the legal requirements become active at the moment of signing.
This immediate commencement bypasses the standard notice period usually required for statutory instruments due to the emergency nature of the order.
Restricted airspace
- No aircraft is to fly below 3,000 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 specified in Column 3.
- These Regulations do not apply to any aircraft flying in accordance with directions given by Essex Police.
Regulation 2 prohibits all aircraft from entering the airspace within 2 nautical miles of the coordinates 514210N 0001616E at altitudes below 3,000 feet.
Regulation 3 creates a specific exemption for aircraft operating under the control or instruction of the Essex Police. This ensures that law enforcement or authorized emergency hardware can operate within the restricted zone while excluding unauthorized traffic.
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Table 1
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Specified area | Radius of circle | Position of centre of circle (latitude and longitude) | | Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar | 2 nautical miles | 514210N 0001616E |
The Schedule defines the exact geographic boundaries of the restricted airspace using a central coordinate point and a radius.
It identifies the restricted zone as a circle extending 2 nautical miles from the center point located at Mill Lane, Chipping Ongar.
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