The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bute Park, Cardiff) Regulations 2026
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bute Park, Cardiff) Regulations 2026 prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft within a specific area of Cardiff on 4 July 2026.
The restriction applies below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within a 0.5 nautical mile radius of Bute Park during late afternoon and evening hours.
The regulations grant the South Wales Police Drone Team the authority to issue permissions for flights that would otherwise be prohibited under this instrument.
Arguments For
The Secretary of State asserts that the restrictions are necessary in the public interest due to the intended gathering of a large number of persons at the site.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the measures are required for reasons of public safety and security.
The document cites article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 as the legal basis for exercising these powers.
Arguments Against
Legal commentators might note that the regulations centralize authorization power within a specific police unit (South Wales Police Drone Team), potentially limiting the operations of commercial or recreational pilots who do not obtain prior permission.
The restriction of airspace for a specific event could be viewed by hobbyist organizations as a limitation on the freedom of movement for unmanned aircraft operators in urban public spaces.
Ambiguity may arise for operators unfamiliar with Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), as the document notes this is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST) currently in use.
Citation and commencement
- These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Bute Park, Cardiff) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 4th July 2026.
This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument.
It sets the date the regulations become legally active as 4 July 2026.
Interpretation
- The times referred to in regulation 3(1) are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).
( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).
This section defines the time standard used throughout the document.
It specifies that all listed times follow Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), noting that this is one hour behind the local British Summer Time.
Restricted airspace
- -(1) Subject to paragraph (2), during the period beginning with 1400 hours and ending with 2230 hours on 4th July 2026 no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,100 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 0.5 of a nautical mile which is centred at 512928N 0031128W.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the South Wales Police Drone Team.
This section prohibits the flight of unmanned aircraft, such as drones, within a defined circular zone around Bute Park between 14:00 and 22:30 UTC on 4 July 2026.
The restriction applies from ground level up to 1,100 feet above mean sea level.
This prohibition does not apply to operators who have obtained specific authorization from the South Wales Police Drone Team.
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