The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stonehenge) Regulations 2025
These regulations temporarily restrict flying within a three-nautical-mile radius of Stonehenge from 16:00 UTC on June 20th to 10:00 UTC on June 21st, 2025.
The restriction, made under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016, is in response to the anticipated large gathering for the Summer Solstice and aims to ensure public safety.
Exemptions exist for certain emergency services and aircraft operating with specific permissions.
Arguments For
- Intended benefits: Prioritizes public safety during a large gathering at Stonehenge.
- Evidence cited: Anticipated large number of persons gathering for the Summer Solstice.
- Implementation methods: Temporary airspace restriction enforced by Wiltshire Police, Ministry of Defence Boscombe Down air traffic control, and Salisbury Plain Air Operations.
- Legal/historical basis: Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Arguments Against
- Potential impacts: May inconvenience legitimate air traffic, including emergency services outside of the exemptions.
- Implementation challenges: Enforcement of the airspace restriction, coordination between different agencies (Wiltshire Police, MOD, CAA).
- Alternative approaches: Ground-based security measures, increased ground policing presence.
- Unintended effects: Possible disruption to emergency services if coordination malfunctions, potential legal challenges to the restriction.
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stonehenge) Regulations 2025 and they come into force on 20th June 2025.
These regulations are officially titled the 'Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stonehenge) Regulations 2025' and will be legally effective starting June 20th, 2025.
- In regulation 3 the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
All times mentioned in regulation 3 use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
- Subject to paragraph , beginning at 1600 hours on 20th June 2025 and ending at 1000 hours on 21st June 2025 no aircraft is to fly below 3,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 3 nautical miles centred at 511044N 0014934W.
- Paragraph does not apply to any aircraft-
- (a) operated by or on behalf of-
- (i) a Police Air Support Unit, or
- (ii) an Emergency Medical Service, or
- (b) flying-
- (i) with the permission of Wiltshire Police,
- (ii) in accordance with a clearance issued by the air traffic control unit at Ministry of Defence Boscombe Down, or
- (iii) within the airspace notified as the Salisbury Plain Danger Areas if it does so with the permission of the Senior Air Operations Officer at Salisbury Plain Air Operations.
Between 4 PM UTC on June 20th and 10 AM UTC on June 21st, no aircraft may fly below 3000 feet above sea level within a 3-nautical-mile radius of the specified coordinates (51.1044N, 0.014934W -- near Stonehenge).
Exemptions apply to Police Air Support Units, Emergency Medical Services and aircraft with permission from Wiltshire Police, MOD Boscombe Down air traffic control, or the Salisbury Plain Air Operations Senior Air Operations Officer (if within Salisbury Plain Danger Areas).
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport 31st January 2025
These Regulations were signed by the authority of the UK Secretary of State for Transport.
EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Stonehenge, Wiltshire during the summer solstice period when it is anticipated there will be a large gathering of persons there on 20th June 2025 and 21st June 2025. At the request of Wiltshire Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of Stonehenge during the summer solstice period for reasons of public safety. The times mentioned in regulation 3 are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST). In relation to the permissions mentioned in regulation 3(b), Wiltshire Police may be contacted on telephone 07929 660897 and the Senior Air Operations Officer at Salisbury Plain Air Operations may be contacted on telephone 01980 674710. 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 03301 382471. David J Best Grade 7 Department for Transport
This explanatory note clarifies the reasons behind the flight restrictions – public safety during the large gathering at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice. Contact information is provided for Wiltshire Police, Salisbury Plain Air Operations, and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Full details of the regulations will be published via Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).
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