S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S
2026 No. 1058
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aberfan, Merthyr
Tydfil) Regulations 2026
Made - - - - 30th September 2026
Coming into force - - 21st October 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).
The...
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 1058 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 30th September 2026 Coming into force - - 21st October 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).
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) (Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 21st October 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 0600 hours and ending with 1700 hours on 21st October 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 2,600 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1.5 nautical miles which is centred at 514130N 0032057W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the South Wales Police Special Events Support Unit.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Karen L Michaels Grade 7 30th 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 Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil for an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster on 21st October 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 referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
In relation to the permission referred to in regulation 3(2), the South Wales Police Special Events Support Unit 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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