The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Download Festival, Leicestershire) Regulations 2026
These regulations restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft (drones) below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within a specific one-nautical-mile radius centered near Donnington Park, Leicestershire, from 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, until 22:59 UTC on Monday, June 15, 2026, due to the large gathering associated with the Download Music Festival; the only exception allows flights conducted under a permission issued by Leicestershire Police.
Arguments For
Protecting public safety and security at a large-scale public event (the Download Music Festival) by preventing unauthorized drone operations near the venue.
Maintaining airspace integrity and mitigating risks associated with unauthorized unmanned aircraft operating in proximity to where large crowds are gathered.
Implementing necessary temporary flight restrictions based on a decision by the Secretary of State, exercised under the powers conferred by the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Arguments Against
Potential limitation on legitimate commercial or recreational drone operation near the specified area outside of the restricted times and altitude ceiling.
Administrative burden on drone operators who must adhere to the specific temporal and geographic restrictions, including verifying time zones (UTC vs BST).
Necessity of obtaining explicit permission from Leicestershire Police for any authorized drone flight within the restricted zone, which adds an operational layer of approval.
2026 No. 363
CIVIL AVIATION
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Download Festival, Leicestershire) Regulations 2026
| Made - - - | 25th March 2026 | |---------------------|-------------------| | Coming into force - | 10th June 2026 |
This header identifies the instrument as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 363, falling under the Civil Aviation category.
It establishes the short title as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Download Festival, Leicestershire) Regulations 2026.
The date the regulations were made was March 25th, 2026, and they officially come into force on June 10th, 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 intended gathering there of a large number of persons.
The Secretary of State determined that restricting unmanned aircraft (drone) flights in a specific area is required for the public interest.
This necessity is based on the fact that a large number of people are expected to gather in that location.
The Secretary of State makes the following regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).
The Secretary of State formally issues these regulations.
The legal authority for making these restrictions comes from Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.
Citation and commencement
- These regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Download Festival, Leicestershire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 10th June 2026.
This sets out the official title for citing the instrument.
It confirms that the prohibitions detailed within these rules become legally effective on June 10th, 2026.
Interpretation
- In regulation 3(1) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
This regulation clarifies that any time references used within Regulation 3(1), which specifies the duration of the restriction, must be interpreted as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), beginning with 0500 hours on Wednesday 10th June 2026 and ending with 2259 hours on Monday 15th June 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,400 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1 nautical mile centred at 524945N 0012237W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by Leicestershire Police.
Paragraph (1) establishes the core restriction: no unmanned aircraft can fly lower than 1,400 feet above sea level within a circular area.
This area has a one-nautical-mile radius, centered at specific coordinates (52°49'45"N, 001°22'37"W).
The restriction is active from 05:00 UTC on June 10th until 22:59 UTC on June 15th, 2026.
Paragraph (2) provides an explicit exemption to this ban.
Unmanned aircraft are permitted to fly in the restricted area if they are operating under a formal permission granted by the Leicestershire Police.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
25th March 2026
Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport
This is the formal conclusion, showing the document was signed on March 25th, 2026, by an authorized official from the Department for Transport, signifying official governmental approval.
( 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).
Footnote (a) provides the legal reference for the primary powers used, citing the 2016 Air Navigation Order and a later amendment from 2024.
Footnote (b) provides a clarifying relationship between the mandated Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and British Summer Time (BST), stating that UTC is one hour earlier than 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 Donnington Park, Leicestershire for the Download Music Festival that is due to take place there on 10th to 15th June 2026, inclusive.
At the request of Leicestershire Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted in the vicinity of the event 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), Leicestershire Police may be contacted as notified.
Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 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.
The Explanatory Note confirms the restrictions target the Download Music Festival at Donnington Park from June 10th to 15th, 2026.
These measures were agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport following a request from Leicestershire Police, citing public safety and security concerns.
The note reiterates that times are in UTC (one hour behind BST) and directs interested parties on how to contact Leicestershire Police for permissions mentioned in the regulations.
Official operational details are to be published via Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) and Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), and a specific contact at the Civil Aviation Authority is provided.
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