The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Edinburgh) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 15th May 26

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Edinburgh) Regulations 2026 establish temporary flight restrictions over a specified two-nautical-mile radius centered near Edinburgh between June 27th and July 3rd, 2026, due to the State Opening of the Scottish Parliament and Royal Week, setting a minimum flight altitude of 4,500 feet above mean sea level, with exemptions for authorized emergency, police, and airport-directed operations.

Arguments For

Ensuring public safety and security during a high-profile state event involving the Scottish Parliament and Royal attendance.
Providing necessary airspace control to manage potential threats associated with significant public gatherings and official ceremonies.
Establishing clear, legally enforceable boundaries and altitude limits for all non-exempted aircraft operating near the restricted zone for the defined period.

Arguments Against

Imposing operational limitations and potential delays on routine civil and commercial air traffic operating into or near Edinburgh Airport during the specified dates.
Creating a temporary navigational restriction that requires careful coordination and communication to avoid inadvertent breaches by pilots.
Potentially impacting authorized commercial drone operations or private flights conducted near the designated perimeter for legitimate purposes.

2026 No. 512

CIVIL AVIATION

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Edinburgh) Regulations 2026

| Made - - - - | 13th May 2026 | |-----------------------|-----------------| | Coming into force - - | 27th June 2026 |

These are the formal details for the statutory instrument, identifying it as Regulation Number 512 of 2026 concerning Civil Aviation.

The regulations were officially made on May 13th, 2026, and officially take legal effect starting June 27th, 2026.

The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reasons of the state opening of the Scottish Parliament and Royal Week.

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 responsible Secretary of State determined that restricting flights near Edinburgh is required for the public interest.

This necessity arises from the schedule of the State Opening of the Scottish Parliament and related Royal Week events.

These restrictions are implemented using the specific authority granted under Article 239 of the existing Air Navigation Order 2016.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Edinburgh) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 27th June 2026.

This regulation specifies the official short title of the legislation as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Edinburgh) Regulations 2026.

It confirms that the legal restrictions begin operating on June 27th, 2026.

Interpretation

In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

This section clarifies that all time references used within Regulation 3, specifically when defining the restricted periods, must be understood as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no aircraft is to fly below 4,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 2 nautical miles which is centred at 555710N 0031020W.

(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-

(a) 0600 hours and end with 1300 hours on 27th June 2026, and
(b) 0700 hours on 29th June 2026 and end with 1400 hours on 3rd July 2026.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any aircraft-

(a) operating in accordance with a permission issued by Police Scotland Aviation Safety & Security Unit,
(b) making an approach to or departure from Edinburgh Airport whilst under the direction of the air traffic control unit at that airport, or
(c) operated by or on behalf of-
(i) a Police Air Support Unit,
(ii) an Emergency Medical Service,
(iii) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for the purpose of Search and Rescue Operations, or
(iv) the King's Helicopter Flight.

This main provision prohibits aircraft from flying below 4,500 feet above sea level within a two-nautical-mile radius centered at specific geographical coordinates (55°57'10"N 003°10'20"W), except where explicitly permitted by paragraph (3).

The restricted times are: only on June 27th, from 06:00 to 13:00 UTC; and continuously from 07:00 UTC on June 29th until 14:00 UTC on July 3rd, 2026.

Exemptions apply to aircraft with specific permissions from Police Scotland, those carrying out standard take-offs or landings at Edinburgh Airport under ATC direction, and aircraft belonging to Police Air Support, Emergency Medical Services, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for Search and Rescue, or the official King's Helicopter Flight.

( 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).

These are footnotes providing legal references and context.

Footnote (a) cites the primary legislation (The Air Navigation Order 2016) that the current regulations are amending or exercising powers under.

Footnote (b) clarifies that UTC is equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time, which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST) during the period the restriction applies.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

13th May 2026

This confirms the official certification of the document, indicating it was signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport on May 13th, 2026.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations impose restrictions on flying in the vicinity of Edinburgh during the State opening of Scottish Parliament and Royal week that are scheduled to take place there on 27th June to 3rd July 2026, inclusive.

At the request of Police Scotland, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of these events for reasons of public safety and security.

The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3)(a), the Police Scotland Aviation Safety & Security Unit may be contacted as notified.

Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).

The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr David Ridley, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, on telephone number 03301 382471.

Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport

This non-statutory note explains that the regulations temporarily restrict flights near Edinburgh for public safety during scheduled events between June 27th and July 3rd, 2026.

The restrictions were agreed upon by Police Scotland, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and the Department for Transport (DfT) for security reasons.

The note reiterates that times are in UTC and directs interested parties on how to contact the correct Police Scotland unit for permissions mentioned in the main text.

It also states that full details will be published through official channels like Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and provides a CAA contact for queries.

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