Official Gazette Notification Text
Official TranscriptS T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 64 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 27th January 2026 Coming into force - - 19th February 2026 The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the areas specified in the Schedule...
S T A T U T O R Y I N S T R U M E N T S 2026 No. 64 CIVIL AVIATION The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026 Made - - - - 27th January 2026 Coming into force - - 19th February 2026 The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the areas specified in the Schedule for reason of national security associated with the location of Ministry of Defence sites.
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) (Ministry of Defence Prohibited Places) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 19 February 2026.
Revocation of Regulations
2. The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Restricted Airspace) Regulations 2024(b) are revoked.
Restricted airspace
3.—(1) These Regulations apply to each of the facilities listed in column 1 of the Schedule, each of which for the purpose of these Regulations comprises an area bounded by straight lines joining successively each of the points in column 2 of the Schedule.
(2) No unmanned aircraft shall fly over a facility to which these Regulations apply below the altitude specified in column 3 of the Schedule.
Exemptions
4. Regulation 3 does not apply—
(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016(c)
(a) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.
(b) S.I. 2024/1382.
(c) S.I. 2016/1003.(b) to any unmanned aircraft—
(i) operated by or on behalf of—
(aa) the Ministry of Defence,
(bb) the visiting forces of the United States of America at the RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Feltwell, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, RAF Oakhanger, RAF Welford and RAF Menwith Hill sites,
(cc) BAE Systems at the Barrow-in-Furness site,
(dd) Rolls Royce at the Raynesway site,
(ee) AWE Nuclear Security Technologies at the Aldermaston and Burghfield sites,
(ff) any police service,
(gg) any fire service, or
(hh) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in response to an emergency incident, or
(ii) flying with the permission of—
(aa) the Ministry of Defence,
(bb) the visiting forces of the United States of America at the RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Feltwell, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Molesworth, RAF Oakhanger, RAF Welford and RAF Menwith Hill sites,
(cc) BAE Systems at the Barrow-in-Furness site,
(dd) Rolls Royce at the Raynesway site, or
(ee) AWE Nuclear Security Technologies at the Aldermaston and Burghfield sites.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport Karen L Michaels Grade 7 27th January 2026 Department for Transport SCHEDULE Regulation 3 Table 1 Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Name of Ministry Description of Lateral Limits (Area covered) Feet above of Defence mean sea Prohibited Place level Abbey Wood Straight lines successively joining the following points - 700ft
513038.66N 0023310.87W - 513039.18N 0023302.98W -
513035.24N 0023302.33W - 513032.20N 0023310.08W -
513024.16N 0023319.86W - 513017.05N 0023259.23W -
513006.64N 0023318.48W - 512956.48N 0023350.79W -
513003.65N 0023357.60W - 513019.66N 0023343.54W -
513038.66N 0023310.87W RAF Alconbury Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
522204.10N 0001357.96W - 522217.58N 0001334.41W -
522213.85N 0001254.01W - 522206.05N 0001238.76W -
522134.94N 0001244.12W - 522130.40N 0001253.04W -
2522204.10N 0001357.96W Aldermaston Straight lines successively joining the following points - 800ft
512230.59N 0010852.91W - 512240.77N 0010801.31W -
512211.29N 0010718.50W - 512155.98N 0010742.01W -
512134.82N 0010902.63W - 512138.86N 0010941.43W -
512230.59N 0010852.91W Barrow-in-Furness Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
540639.80N 0031424.34W - 540643.96N 0031408.72W -
540633.78N 0031339.31W - 540627.19N 0031343.79W -
540615.21N 0031302.11W - 540611.17N 0031310.47W -
540612.14N 0031327.02W - 540618.50N 0031351.43W -
540606.65N 0031400.07W - 540557.08N 0031323.07W -
540550.94N 0031342.52W - 540558.94N 0031404.77W -
540611.79N 0031423.31W - 540628.26N 0031427.95W -
540639.80N 0031424.34W Beith Straight lines successively joining the following points - 900ft
554417.97N 0043803.34W - 554421.03N 0043738.33W -
554346.60N 0043620.23W - 554324.19N 0043633.15W -
554228.61N 0043806.22W - 554325.22N 0043858.94W -
554417.97N 0043803.34W Burghfield Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
512458.58N 0010152.87W - 512438.66N 0010042.51W -
512406.34N 0010116.42W - 512357.03N 0010139.77W -
512400.15N 0010150.75W - 512458.58N 0010152.87W HMNB Clyde Straight lines successively joining the following points - 2,900ft
560955.62N 0044716.27W - 560909.94N 0044422.58W -
560256.85N 0044637.18W - 560211.04N 0044744.76W -
560213.32N 0045132.20W - 560309.13N 0045254.45W -
560402.29N 0045230.19W - 560955.62N 0044716.27W MOD Corsham Straight lines successively joining the following points - 900ft
512521.23N 0021317.39W - 512548.84N 0021232.22W -
512542.01N 0021223.70W - 512522.75N 0021224.54W -
512511.52N 0021240.08W - 512508.15N 0021249.77W -
512521.23N 0021317.39W Hereford Straight lines successively joining the following points - 1,000ft
520520.56N 0024802.11W - 520521.04N 0024751.05W -
520505.49N 0024712.44W - 520454.27N 0024717.93W -
520441.19N 0024743.20W - 520446.50N 0024812.69W -
520459.09N 0024814.01W - 520520.56N 0024802.11W Crombie Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
560303.63N 0033224.88W - 560301.72N 0033156.00W -
560227.06N 0033039.35W - 560204.95N 0033051.58W -
560149.97N 0033145.72W - 560224.91N 0033339.19W -
560303.63N 0033224.88W RAF Croughton Straight lines successively joining the following points - 900ft
515938.43N 0011153.94W - 515949.01N 0011138.13W -
515949.66N 0011058.17W - 515945.74N 0010943.34W -
515902.76N 0011025.68W - 515854.03N 0011047.05W -
515847.44N 0011135.88W - 515938.43N 0011153.94W HMNB Devonport Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft (Area 1) 502354.37N 0041223.47W - 502411.54N 0041209.02W -
502359.00N 0041105.16W - 502337.32N 0041033.13W -
502248.09N 0041058.35W - 502246.01N 0041108.41W -
502354.37N 0041223.47W HMNB Devonport Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft (Area 2) 502230.79N 0041104.19W - 502241.81N 0041042.45W -
3502242.70N 0041034.98W - 502237.41N 0041033.93W -
502158.77N 0041047.81W - 502153.11N 0041052.88W -
502201.84N 0041108.19W - 502230.79N 0041104.19W RAF Digby Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
530623.64N 0002713.65W - 530618.59N 0002613.67W -
530614.13N 0002554.85W - 530552.23N 0002545.68W -
530537.66N 0002557.40W - 530541.54N 0002721.93W -
530601.92N 0002720.66W - 530623.64N 0002713.65W Donnington Straight lines successively joining the following points - 700ft
524348.90N 0022758.13W - 524346.28N 0022724.15W -
524359.31N 0022710.11W - 524349.97N 0022624.39W -
524331.71N 0022612.58W - 524326.87N 0022614.11W -
524301.28N 0022705.56W - 524332.37N 0022749.29W -
524348.90N 0022758.13W RAF Fairford Straight lines successively joining the following points - 800ft
514102.64N 0014910.76W - 514203.94N 0014628.27W -
514200.11N 0014604.64W - 514130.86N 0014544.56W -
514035.21N 0014528.75W - 514022.48N 0014633.59W -
514028.44N 0014818.95W - 514047.64N 0014901.26W -
514102.64N 0014910.76W RAF Feltwell Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
522857.88N 0003017.94E - 522906.95N 0003028.80E -
522909.25N 0003109.29E - 522856.86N 0003138.60E -
522842.30N 0003144.83E - 522821.64N 0003104.23E -
522829.93N 0003034.73E - 522857.88N 0003017.94E RAF Fylingdales Straight lines successively joining the following points - 1,400ft
542314.13N 0004051.92W - 542319.17N 0004001.38W -
542311.56N 0003911.08W - 542254.61N 0003835.89W -
542229.35N 0003808.99W - 542107.67N 0003954.85W -
542108.30N 0004108.88W - 542238.48N 0004103.32W -
542314.13N 0004051.92W Gosport Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
505020.79N 0010932.01W - 505006.03N 0010855.92W -
504937.96N 0010839.19W - 504904.83N 0010830.84W -
504901.39N 0010856.70W - 504904.11N 0010937.90W -
504922.71N 0010952.17W - 504951.79N 0010957.93W -
505020.79N 0010932.01W Palace Barracks Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
543756.79N 0055046.34W - 543750.25N 0055026.11W -
543725.39N 0055029.32W - 543716.86N 0055043.80W -
543722.39N 0055111.27W - 543733.72N 0055055.05W -
543738.24N 0055106.53W - 543756.79N 0055046.34W HMS Excellent Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft (Horsea Island) 505017.38N 0010624.63W - 505023.94N 0010621.63W -
505001.64N 0010529.01W - 504954.85N 0010531.53W -
504951.50N 0010537.57W - 505017.38N 0010624.63W Kineton Straight lines successively joining the following points - 800ft
520947.20N 0012823.40W - 521012.85N 0012656.03W -
520931.73N 0012604.13W - 520841.53N 0012635.58W -
520737.56N 0012811.34W - 520814.75N 0013021.61W -
520857.50N 0012942.74W - 520947.20N 0012823.40W RAF Lakenheath Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
522419.44N 0003201.12E - 522521.99N 0003222.52E -
522521.62N 0003529.41E - 522400.16N 0003435.25E -
522323.03N 0003243.66E - 522302.87N 0003232.32E -
522304.87N 0003203.55E - 522324.84N 0003157.57E -
4522419.44N 0003201.12E Thiepval Barracks Straight lines successively joining the following points - 700ft
543136.64N 0060308.65W - 543139.24N 0060235.04W -
543128.52N 0060229.95W - 543115.81N 0060254.23W -
543110.08N 0060321.71W - 543129.27N 0060322.87W -
543136.64N 0060308.65W Longtown Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
550021.19N 0025939.95W - 545943.80N 0025911.22W -
545846.09N 0030110.79W - 545853.23N 0030130.15W -
545922.85N 0030200.24W - 550021.19N 0025939.95W RAF Menwith Hill Straight lines successively joining the following points - 1,200ft
540054.21N 0014200.02W - 540100.97N 0014052.56W -
540009.39N 0014021.92W - 535954.79N 0014131.36W -
540054.21N 0014200.02W RAF Mildenhall Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
522213.67N 0002745.72E - 522226.77N 0002815.53E -
522146.87N 0003051.69E - 522126.52N 0003054.30E -
522104.75N 0002913.48E - 522128.06N 0002749.61E -
522152.21N 0002729.30E - 522213.67N 0002745.72E RAF Molesworth Straight lines successively joining the following points - 700ft
522326.50N 0002556.24W - 522337.33N 0002538.91W -
522343.70N 0002505.59W - 522315.28N 0002402.20W -
522246.92N 0002409.50W - 522238.57N 0002545.52W -
522243.63N 0002603.26W - 522300.06N 0002618.10W -
522326.50N 0002556.24W Northwood Straight lines successively joining the following points - 900ft
513713.94N 0002446.85W - 513719.70N 0002438.79W -
513719.21N 0002430.15W - 513716.65N 0002427.59W -
513705.43N 0002427.46W - 513700.10N 0002431.24W -
513702.93N 0002446.78W - 513705.51N 0002451.00W -
513713.94N 0002446.85W MOD Oakhanger Straight lines successively joining the following points - 800ft
510700.21N 0005500.18W - 510704.76N 0005445.60W -
510707.04N 0005423.89W - 510704.99N 0005408.01W -
510648.31N 0005412.19W - 510642.15N 0005423.02W -
510641.59N 0005430.59W - 510649.90N 0005455.44W -
510700.21N 0005500.18W Plymouth Straight lines successively joining the following points - 700ft
502511.56N 0041204.59W - 502544.96N 0041129.12W -
502534.95N 0041104.66W - 502523.80N 0041115.56W -
502527.73N 0041127.01W - 502508.42N 0041138.85W -
502458.49N 0041111.22W - 502439.26N 0041055.01W -
502428.79N 0041120.06W - 502430.29N 0041207.00W -
502511.56N 0041204.59W Poole (Area 1) Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
504247.03N 0020121.07W - 504250.34N 0020118.17W -
504247.62N 0020110.33W - 504242.17N 0020114.90W -
504241.61N 0020116.75W - 504243.35N 0020122.21W -
504247.03N 0020121.07W Poole (Area 2) Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
504320.75N 0020143.06W - 504326.54N 0020115.38W -
504259.16N 0020102.98W - 504255.88N 0020106.42W -
504253.87N 0020112.14W - 504256.34N 0020122.91W -
504307.89N 0020142.47W - 504320.75N 0020143.06W Porton Down Straight lines successively joining the following points - 1,100ft
510800.67N 0014247.86W - 510951.43N 0013834.18W -
5510935.32N 0013733.91W - 510809.25N 0013659.32W -
510733.13N 0013736.94W - 510703.17N 0013841.94W -
510600.63N 0014317.25W - 510637.38N 0014447.32W -
510800.67N 0014247.86W HMNB Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft Portsmouth 504827.44N 0010648.33W - 504842.55N 0010615.85W -
504835.49N 0010528.23W - 504829.30N 0010523.79W -
504817.20N 0010520.59W - 504759.97N 0010541.42W -
504759.01N 0010617.71W - 504752.10N 0010635.66W -
504752.04N 0010646.98W - 504827.44N 0010648.33W Raynesway Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
525445.65N 0012605.50W - 525436.88N 0012548.71W -
525424.52N 0012552.58W - 525423.69N 0012603.41W -
525430.16N 0012607.21W - 525437.04N 0012620.34W -
525440.05N 0012622.76W - 525445.65N 0012605.50W Sennybridge Straight lines successively joining the following points - 1,100ft
515710.88N 0033415.83W - 515712.00N 0033411.26W -
515708.05N 0033356.08W - 515659.46N 0033400.60W -
515643.60N 0033420.68W - 515641.52N 0033428.60W -
515644.00N 0033434.21W - 515651.88N 0033439.00W -
515656.00N 0033436.74W - 515710.88N 0033415.83W Southwick Park Straight lines successively joining the following points - 700ft
505245.87N 0010614.40W - 505239.47N 0010539.63W -
505233.77N 0010528.11W - 505224.49N 0010554.54W -
505223.83N 0010635.64W - 505226.26N 0010643.40W -
505236.45N 0010633.56W - 505245.87N 0010614.40W St Athan Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
512442.71N 0032704.32W - 512446.49N 0032652.60W -
512443.48N 0032504.53W - 512420.62N 0032459.93W -
512410.27N 0032545.56W - 512403.37N 0032651.93W -
512419.09N 0032715.60W - 512442.71N 0032704.32W Taunton (UKHO) Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
510129.00N 0030443.08W - 510129.06N 0030435.67W -
510125.92N 0030424.03W - 510118.18N 0030421.62W -
510117.41N 0030430.51W - 510117.78N 0030437.79W -
510124.08N 0030449.47W - 510129.00N 0030443.08W Thorney Island Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft
504953.53N 0005616.97W - 505000.65N 0005501.46W -
504929.12N 0005411.74W - 504813.11N 0005413.80W -
504819.79N 0005515.38W - 504844.71N 0005544.31W -
504855.52N 0005633.41W - 504939.14N 0005629.07W -
504953.53N 0005616.97W RAF Welford Straight lines successively joining the following points - 1,000ft
512821.03N 0012502.89W - 512900.54N 0012433.33W -
512845.44N 0012342.20W - 512753.77N 0012303.87W -
512727.77N 0012336.95W - 512729.33N 0012357.32W -
512821.03N 0012502.89W HMS Excellent Straight lines successively joining the following points - 500ft (Whale Island) 504908.46N 0010557.89W - 504913.34N 0010553.41W -
504914.42N 0010545.70W - 504909.23N 0010538.68W -
504854.30N 0010532.91W - 504846.12N 0010541.89W -
504845.02N 0010603.99W - 504848.88N 0010607.42W -
504908.46N 0010557.89W RAF Wyton Straight lines successively joining the following points - 600ft
522117.39N 0000754.36W - 522128.17N 0000735.84W -
522123.85N 0000641.48W - 522105.69N 0000625.06W -
6522057.05N 0000633.70W - 522044.14N 0000700.18W -
522043.92N 0000706.09W - 522117.39N 0000754.36W EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Regulations) These Regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of the sites specified in the Schedule.
These Regulations also revoke the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Ministry of Defence Restricted Airspace) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/1382).
At the request of the Ministry of Defence, it has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the areas specified in the Schedule for reasons of national security.
These Regulations apply except insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1003).
In relation to the permissions listed in regulation 4(b)(ii), the points of contact will be detailed within the United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication – Part 2 En-route Section - ENR
5.1, available at https://nats-uk.ead-it.com/cms-nats/opencms/en/Publications/AIP/.
Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated in the United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication.
The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Phil Andrus, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, via ARops@caa.co.uk.
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