The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Knebworth, Hertfordshire) Regulations 2026

Published: Thu 2nd Jul 26

These Regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within a specified geographic area of Knebworth, Hertfordshire, during a music festival.

The restriction applies to all unmanned aircraft operators except those who obtain written permission from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Drone Team.

These rules remain in effect during specific intervals between July 10, 2026, and July 12, 2026, to manage safety and security risks associated with large public gatherings.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that flight restrictions are necessary in the public interest by reason of an intended gathering of a large number of persons.
The explanatory note states that the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree the measures are necessary for public safety and security during a music festival.
Implementation is facilitated through a permission system, allowing the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Drone Team to authorize specific flights within the restricted zone.

Arguments Against

Civil liberties organizations have previously argued that broad flight restrictions on unmanned aircraft can disproportionately limit the activity of hobbyists and commercial operators not involved in the event.
Legal scholars have noted that the use of Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) in regulations, while standard in aviation, requires the public to manually convert times to British Summer Time, which may lead to accidental non-compliance.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Knebworth, Hertfordshire) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 10th July 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument.

It also specifies that the legal requirements take effect on July 10, 2026.

Interpretation

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

( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

This provision defines the time standard used for the duration of the flight restrictions.

It clarifies that Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the applicable standard and notes its relationship to British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,500 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by the following points-

(a) 515302N, 0001219W,
(b) 515202N, 0001154W,
(c) 515213N, 0001242W,
(d) 515212N, 0001249W,
(e) 515209N, 0001256W,
(f) 515205N, 0001258W,
(g) 515159N, 0001312W,
(h) 515211N, 0001331W,
(i) 515216N, 0001351W,
(j) 515231N, 0001345W, and
(k) 515302N, 0001219W.

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

(a) 1100 hours on 10th July 2026 and end with 0100 hours on 11th July 2026, and
(b) 0700 hours on 11th July 2026 and end with 0100 hours on 12th July 2026.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Drone Team.

This section prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,500 feet within a specific area defined by geographic coordinates.

It sets out the exact time windows for these restrictions over a three-day period.

It also provides an exemption for flights authorized by the designated police drone team.

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