This Statutory Instrument, The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (War Memorial Park, Coventry) Regulations 2026, imposes a temporary restriction on the operation of unmanned aircraft to ensure public safety during a large gathering, specifically the Coventry City Football Club Parade, on May 4, 2026; the regulation prohibits flights below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined area around War Memorial Park, Coventry, between 0900 and 2100 hours Co-ordinated Universal Time, although exceptions exist for flights authorized by the West Midlands Police Counter-UAS Team.

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Lincoln) Regulations 2026 establish temporary prohibitions on flying unmanned aircraft below 1,300 feet above mean sea level within a precisely defined geographic area around Lincoln on May 9th, 2026, between 1100 and 1800 Co-ordinated Universal Time, citing public safety and security concerns related to a large public gathering, though exceptions exist for existing prison restrictions and flights authorized by the Lincolnshire Police Counter-UAS Team.

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ragley Hall, Alcester) Regulations 2026 impose temporary restrictions on aircraft flying below Flight Level 65 within a specified three-nautical-mile radius centered at Ragley Hall, Alcester, between May 29th and May 31st, 2026, inclusive, to ensure public safety during the scheduled Midlands Air Festival, which involves high-energy aircraft maneuvers; these restrictions are lifted for authorized display personnel, emergency services, and police air support units.

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Drax, North Yorkshire) Regulations 2026 enact time-limited restrictions on the operation of unmanned aircraft within a specific geographic area around Drax, North Yorkshire, between 0600 hours on April 27th, 2026, and 2259 hours on May 3rd, 2026, forbidding flights below 1,200 feet above mean sea level unless explicit permission is granted by the North Yorkshire Police Drone Team, citing public interest, safety, and security concerns related to a large intended gathering.

These Regulations set out the administrative and procedural rules necessary for the permitting system established by the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 to operate concerning automated passenger services across England, Wales, and Scotland.

They specify that permits can last a maximum of five years, detail the renewal application window and continuation of service during review, and define the circumstances and procedures under which the Secretary of State can vary, suspend, or withdraw a permit, either with or without the holder's consent.

Furthermore, the rules establish an internal review process for adverse decisions and authorize the regulated disclosure and use of operational and safety information by permit holders to various public bodies.

These 2026 Regulations require the Secretary of State to direct the Information Commissioner to prepare an official code of practice offering guidance on good practice for processing personal data when developing and using artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems, specifically including provisions for children's data.

Furthermore, the regulations modify existing law by ensuring that any advisory panel considering the code must exempt aspects related to national security from their review process.

These Regulations, titled the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026, bring into force specific provisions of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 starting from May 15, 2026, primarily implementing Part 5 concerning permits for automated passenger services (except for sections related to civil sanctions and specific administrative procedures) and enacting Section 93, which mandates the provision of information about traffic regulation measures by authorities in England and Wales.

These Regulations, made by the Secretary of State under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, amend Schedule 4 of that Act to remove specific ambulance service trusts in England and Northern Ireland from the list of relevant public authorities permitted to obtain communications data, thereby revoking their statutory power to access such data as of May 11, 2026.