SI 2026/1002 - The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stockwood Park, Luton) Regulations 2026

S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 1002 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stockwood Park, Luton) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 9th September 2026 Coming into force - - 12th September 2026 The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intending gathering there of a large number of persons.

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016(a).

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Stockwood Park, Luton) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 12th September 2026.

Interpretation

2. The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time(b).

Restricted airspace

3.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 0700 hours and ending with 2259 hours on 12th September 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,600 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.9 of a nautical mile which is centred at 515159N 0002549W.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance a permission issued by—

(a) the Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS Bronze Commander, or

(b) the Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS Tactics Advisor.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Karen L Michaels Grade 7 9th September 2026 Department for Transport

(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).EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Stockwood Park, Luton, where the gathering of a large number of persons is due to take place for the Party in the Park Festival on 12th September 2026. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in that area for reasons of public safety and security.

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 permissions mentioned in regulation 3(2), the Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS Bronze Commander and the Bedfordshire Police Counter-UAS Tactics Advisor may be contacted as notified.

Full details of these Regulations will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation

(NOTAM).

The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382515.

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