The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Remembrance Sunday) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 25th Sept 26

Restricted airspace access below 2,500 feet around the Cenotaph in London during the 2026 Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

These regulations prohibit aircraft from flying below 2,500 feet above mean sea level within a 2.5 nautical mile radius centred on the Cenotaph in London between 1000 hours and 1230 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time on 8th November 2026.

The restrictions apply to general aircraft operations but exclude emergency services, police air support, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, The King's Helicopter Flight, and specific commercial flight paths under air traffic control direction.

The measures are enacted to ensure public safety and security during the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

Arguments For

The legislation states that restrictions are necessary in the public interest by reason of the holding of the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph.
The explanatory note indicates that 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 and security.
The regulations incorporate specific exemptions to ensure that essential flights—such as those operated by the Police Air Support Unit, Emergency Medical Services, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and The King's Helicopter Flight—can continue to operate.
The order provides structured exceptions for scheduled commercial aviation, allowing continued approaches and departures at London City Airport, London Heathrow Airport, and the London Heliport under air traffic control direction.

Arguments Against

The regulations restrict general aviation and recreational airspace users by prohibiting flights below 2,500 feet within the designated 2.5 nautical mile radius.
Operators utilizing non-standard flight and enhanced non-standard flight clearances face disruptions as all such clearances within the specified area are withdrawn for the duration of the restrictions.
The closure of Helicopter Route H4 between Battersea Bridge and London Bridge removes a standard transit path, requiring pilots to plan alternative routes around the restricted zone.
Pilots must monitor Briefing Sheets and Notices to Aviation (NOTAM) to ensure compliance and avoid accidental airspace violations during the visual flight window.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Remembrance Sunday) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 8th November 2026.

This section establishes the official title of the regulations and sets the date they take effect.

The rules become active on 8th November 2026.

Interpretation

In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

This section defines the time standard governing the flight restrictions.

It specifies that all stated times use Co-ordinated Universal Time, which corresponds to Greenwich Mean Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1000 hours and ending with 1230 hours on 8th November 2026 no aircraft is to fly below 2,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 2.5 nautical miles centred at 513009N 0000734W.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply-

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (City of London) Regulations 2004( c ), the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Specified Area) Regulations 2005( d ), the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Hyde Park) Regulations 2017( e ), or the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023( f ),
(b) to any aircraft operated by or on behalf of-
- (i) a Police Air Support Unit,
- (ii) an Emergency Medical Service,
- (iii) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
- (iv) The King's Helicopter Flight, or
(c) to any aircraft-
- (i) making an approach to Runway 09 at London City Airport at a height of not less than 1,500 feet above mean sea level to the west of a line running true north to true south through 513030N 0000514W (London Bridge) whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control Unit at London City Airport or the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick,
- (ii) making an approach to Runway 09 at London City Airport to the east of a line running true north to true south through 513030N 0000514W (London Bridge) whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control Unit at London City Airport or the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick,
- (iii) making an approach to or departure from London Heathrow Airport, whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control unit at London Heathrow Airport or the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick,
- (iv) making an approach to or departure from the London Heliport, Battersea to the west of a line running true north to true south through 512852N 0001018W (Battersea Bridge) whilst under the direction of the Air Traffic Control Unit at the London Heliport or the London Terminal Control Centre, Swanwick, or
- (v) flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Metropolitan Police Service.

(3) All non-standard flight and enhanced non-standard flight clearances( a ) contained within the area specified in regulation 3(1) are withdrawn for the duration of these Regulations.

(4) Helicopter Route H4 within the area specified in regulation 3(1) to the east of 512852N 0001018W (Battersea Bridge) and to the west of 513030N 0000514W (London Bridge) is not available for the duration of these Regulations( b ).

( a ) A non-standard flight is a flight that does not follow published routes or notified procedures.

( b ) Helicopter routes H4 is illustrated within Aeronautical Information Publication EGLL AD 2.24: Helicopter routes in the London CTR and London/City CTR chart AD 2-EGLL-3-2.

This section creates a temporary restricted airspace zone over central London on 8th November 2026 between 10:00 and 12:30 UTC, banning flights below 2,500 feet within a 2.5 nautical mile radius of the Cenotaph.

It lists specific exemptions for emergency services, police, coastguard, royal flights, and certain commercial aircraft operating under air traffic control directions or with Metropolitan Police permission.

Additionally, it revokes all non-standard flight clearances and closes a segment of Helicopter Route H4 between Battersea Bridge and London Bridge during this period.

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