These regulations impose a precise, temporary restriction on aircraft flying below Flight Level 85 within a 6-nautical-mile radius centered on the Royal Air Force Brize Norton on 29th May 2026, between 1400 and 1500 hours UTC, specifically to ensure public safety during scheduled flying displays, exempting only essential emergency services and authorized operational air traffic movements.
Arguments For
The primary argument is public safety, necessitated by the high-energy maneuvers anticipated during the scheduled flying displays at RAF Brize Norton.
The restriction is temporary (one hour on a specific date), minimizing disruption to general air traffic while maximizing safety during the event.
The use of statutory powers (Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016) provides the necessary legal basis for the Secretary of State to enforce necessary controls in the public interest.
Exemptions are clearly defined for essential services (Police, Emergency Medical Service) and relevant operational air traffic control units, ensuring necessary ongoing safety and emergency response capabilities are maintained.
Arguments Against
The restrictions impose a temporary but absolute ban on non-exempted flying below Flight Level 85 within a 6-nautical-mile radius, potentially causing minor delays or requiring rerouting for general aviation or low-flying commercial traffic in the vicinity.
The necessity relies on the Secretary of State's assessment of public interest, which, while justified by safety, represents a temporary federal imposition on existing airspace rights.
The need to coordinate permissions with specific RAF control centers might place an administrative burden on entities needing access during that hour.
The regulation uses Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which requires pilots and operators to correctly convert to local time (BST) to avoid non-compliance.
2026 No. 375
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026
| Made - - - - | 25th March 2026 | |-----------------------|-------------------| | Coming into force - - | 29th May 2026 |
This identifies the legal instrument as Statutory Instrument (SI) 2026 No. 375, falling under the general category of Civil Aviation.
It records that the regulations were officially made on March 25, 2026, and legally come into effect on May 29, 2026.
The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended holding of flying displays that are scheduled to take place there.
The Secretary of State determined that restricting flying within a specific geographical area is necessary for the public interest.
This decision was made because flying displays are planned to occur in that location.
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
These rules are created under the authority granted by Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
This designates the legal framework enabling the government to impose such restrictions.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 29th May 2026.
This section provides the official short title for the legislation.
It confirms that the rules become legally active and enforceable starting on May 29, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This defines how time must be interpreted within the restriction notice. All times mentioned in Regulation 3(1) must be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2) beginning with 1400 hours and ending with 1500 hours on 29th May 2026 no aircraft is to fly below Flight level 85( c ) within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 6 nautical miles which is centred at 514534N 0013439W.
This establishes the core restriction: between 14:00 and 15:00 UTC on May 29, 2026, no aircraft can fly lower than Flight Level 85 (a measure of height in aviation).
The restricted area is defined as a 6-nautical-mile circle surrounding the specified geographic coordinates (51 degrees 45 minutes 34 seconds North latitude, 0 degrees 13 minutes 43.9 seconds West longitude).
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft-
- (a) operating in accordance with the permission of the Royal Air Force Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre South,
- (b) operating in accordance with the permission of the Royal Air Force Brize Norton family day flying display director, or
- (c) operated by or on behalf of-
- (i) a Police Air Support Unit, or
- (ii) an Emergency Medical Service.
This lists specific exceptions to the flying ban outlined in paragraph (1).
Aircraft are exempted if they have prior permission from either the RAF Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre South or the designated display director for the family day.
Furthermore, aircraft belonging to Police Air Support Units or Emergency Medical Services are automatically exempt.
( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
( c ) The term 'Flight level' is defined in Schedule 1 to the Air Navigation Order 2016, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.
These are footnotes providing context for the references used in the main text.
They cite the primary regulation (SI 2016/765) that was amended, clarify that UTC is one hour behind BST, and note that the technical definition of 'Flight level' comes from the original Air Navigation Order 2016.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
25th March 2026
This confirms that the document was signed by someone authorized by the Secretary of State for Transport, dating the official signing to March 25, 2026.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Royal Air Force Brize Norton during flying displays that are scheduled to take place there on 29th May 2026.
Many aircraft will be involved in high energy manoeuvres during the displays and therefore the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of the event for reasons of public safety.
The times mentioned in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2)(a), the Royal Air Force Terminal Air Traffic Control Centre South may be contacted as notified.
In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(2)(b), the Royal Air Force Brize Norton family day flying display director may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this statutory instrument will be promulgated by Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 0330 1382471.
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the rules restrict flying near RAF Brize Norton for safety during displays on the specified date, noting that high-energy maneuvers necessitate the controls.
It reiterates that times are UTC (one hour behind BST) and advises on how to contact the relevant air traffic authorities mentioned in the exemption clauses.
It also states that official details will be widely published via AIC and NOTAM, providing a contact point at the Civil Aviation Authority for inquiries.
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