The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Regulations 2026
Restricted the flight of unmanned aircraft near the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on 28 June 2026.
These Regulations prohibit the flight of unmanned aircraft below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within a specified area around the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on 28 June 2026.
The restrictions apply between 1700 hours and 2230 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time to all unmanned aircraft, unless the South Wales Police Drone Team grants specific flight permission.
This measure is intended to facilitate public safety and security during an event involving a large gathering of people.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that these measures are required for reasons of public safety and security.
The regulations utilize powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 to manage airspace in specific geographic coordinates.
The document provides a mechanism for authorized flight via permissions issued by the South Wales Police Drone Team, allowing for oversight of necessary aerial activity.
Arguments Against
Operators of unmanned aircraft may face restricted access to airspace within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of the stadium during the specified five-and-a-half-hour window.
The legal effect of the restriction is temporary and specific to a single date, which may require drone operators to monitor Notices to Aviation (NOTAM) to ensure compliance.
Commercial or recreational drone users not affiliated with the police may be prevented from operating in the vicinity of central Cardiff during the restricted period.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Principality Stadium, Cardiff) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 28th June 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument.
It specifies that the legal provisions become active on 28 June 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This provision defines the time standard used throughout the document as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
It clarifies that the restricted hours must be interpreted according to this international standard rather than local British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
- —(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 1700 hours and ending with 2230 hours on 28th June 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 0.5 of a nautical mile whose centre is at 512842N 0031057W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the South Wales Police Drone Team.
This section creates a temporary exclusion zone for unmanned aircraft within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of a specific coordinate in Cardiff, up to an altitude of 1,100 feet.
The restriction is active for a specific duration on 28 June 2026.
It also provides an exception for flights authorized by the South Wales Police Drone Team.
This allows the police to permit specific unmanned aircraft to operate within the restricted airspace at their discretion.
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