The Secretary of State revoked the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026, immediately ending specified flight limitations over RAF Brize Norton.
These Regulations revoke the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026, immediately lifting previous temporary flight restrictions imposed over the area surrounding the Royal Air Force Brize Norton base because the Secretary of State no longer deems those restrictions necessary in the public interest.
Arguments For
Removing unnecessary operational constraints on civil and military air traffic near RAF Brize Norton, which supports better airspace efficiency.
Acknowledging that the security or public interest reasons necessitating the original restrictions are no longer present, simplifying regulatory compliance for pilots and operators.
Reinstating standard flight rules for the area, which reduces administrative burden associated with monitoring and enforcing temporary restrictions.
Arguments Against
Potential for increased air traffic density or unintentional encroachment on sensitive operational areas immediately surrounding RAF Brize Norton if safety precautions were not fully addressed during revocation.
Lack of detailed public information regarding the specific threat or necessity that prompted the original 2026 restrictions, making the justification for their immediate removal opaque.
If the revocation was premature, it could potentially compromise ongoing security assessments or ongoing operations at the base.
2026 No. 401
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) (Revocation) Regulations 2026
Made ----at 4.11 p.m. on 2nd April 2026
Coming into force with immediate effect
The Secretary of State has decided that it is no longer considered necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026( a ).
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( b ).
This establishes the official title, number (2026 No. 401), and legal domain (Civil Aviation) for the instrument.
The Regulations were made on April 2nd, 2026, at 4:11 p.m., and became effective immediately upon being made.
The Secretary of State determined that the flight restrictions previously established around the Royal Air Force (RAF) Brize Norton base, as detailed in the 2026 regulations referenced, are no longer required for reasons of public interest.
These powers to issue such regulations are derived from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) (Revocation) Regulations 2026 and they come into force with immediate effect.
The official short title is set out for citing these specific revocation rules.
These Regulations take effect instantaneously when they are formally enacted.
Revocation of Regulations
- The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026 are revoked.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
At 4.11 p.m. on 2nd April 2026
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations revoke the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Royal Air Force Brize Norton) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/375) as those Regulations are no longer considered necessary.
This section formally cancels the previous set of Regulations from 2026 that had imposed the flight restrictions over RAF Brize Norton.
The signing authority confirms the revocation occurred at the specified time on April 2nd, 2026.
The accompanying Explanatory Note clarifies that the purpose is solely to repeal the specific Regulation (S.I. 2026/375) because the original necessity for those flight limitations has passed.
This note holds no legal force.
( a ) S.I. 2026/375.
( b ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
Joe Thompson Senior Executive Officer Department for Transport
The footnotes specify the exact statutory instruments being referenced: referenced legislation (a) is S.I. 2026/375, and the enabling legislation (b) is the Air Navigation Order 2016, along with a later amendment in 2024.
The document concludes with the name and position of the official from the Department for Transport who processed the instrument.
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