Restriction of Flying; NATO Summit - Newport and Cardiff areas 3-5 Sep 14

[simondale]

Dear All,

Please see the email below from the CAA regarding a restriction of flying in the Newport and Cardiff areas September 3rd to 5th for the NATO summit.

All the best

Simon

--------------------------

All,

In case you are not aware, a Restriction of Flying order has been made to cover the period of the NATO summit, which is taking place in Newport, Gwent, during the period 3-5 September 2014 – the full details are published within Aeronautical Information Circular M 081/2014, which is contained within the link below:

http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic/pamslight-929CE4094E2E7D4B79058BD5D361C72A/7FE5QZZF3FXUS/EN/AIC/M/081-2014/EG_Circ_2014_M_081_en_2014-08-07.pdf

Note the wording of the AIC, which creates a Restricted Area (Temporary) within a 20nm radius of the meeting venue plus an additional 'blob' to the south west of it, up to FL105 (10,500ft) within which NO AIRCRAFT is to be flown unless in accordance with the conditions listed.  This is an extremely large area indeed!

I've checked with the appropriate staff, on the off chance that small UAS operations (recreational or otherwise) had been overlooked, or if a less restrictive 'no fly' distance could be provided, but I'm afraid not; the model aircraft aspects were actually discussed at length at the security meetings during the period leading up to the publication of the AIC - the intention is to prevent ALL Unmanned Aircraft from operating as well.

The NATO summit event is the biggest security event the UK has hosted in recent years with over 60 Heads of States, 60 foreign secs etc amounting to over 10,000 significant participants. Unmanned aircraft of all types and sizes, no matter whether they are being operated for recreational or other means, create a clear security threat in an environment where the Police and MoD are carrying out a significant air policing operation including fighter air patrols, additional radar devices and airborne surveillance to achieve and maintain a recognised air picture. No exemptions will be provided for model operations – this was at the joint agreement of the Security forces. The threat is not just around the venue; due to the location, delegates will be accommodated at other venues within the 20nm area. The intention is to carry out proportionate policing (eg. so that someone flying his simple 'toy helicopter' in his back garden should not become a criminal, although even that will probably depend on the circumstances at the time), but beyond this, everyone will need to take a break from flying in that area during that period.

Can I therefore ask you to publicise the details of the restriction to your other members, customers or colleagues as widely as possible?  I have taken the Email addresses of many of you from the distribution list for the annual CAA/Model Aircraft Associations meeting, in order to try and cast the net as widely as possible.

Please note that the security and policing aspects of small UAS operations are quickly moving up the agenda in the security world (ie. not connected to the CAA's flight safety remit) - only last week a UAS operator (believed to be connected to the media using 'hobbyist equipment' but this is still under investigation) almost impacted on a policing operation, which could potentially have turned a delicate policing op into something very major including loss of life. This was well after the 'Emergency restriction of flying' restrictions were planned and notified, but it all adds to the rationale and justification.

Gerry
Gerry Corbett
UAS Programme Lead
Intelligence, Strategy and Policy
Safety and Airspace Regulation Group
Civil Aviation Authority

[Loopdreams]

Bad URL, there.

[ClippedWing]

For the lazy ones among us!

[FPVSteve]

I can't be bothered to click on that picture, could you make it bigger thanks

[ClippedWing]

I would but i cant be bothered

[Heliotrope]

Thanks for posting this Simon. It's a good explanation of the situation and I can now understand the 20 mile restriction.

[electrotor]

I would but i cant be bothered

;D

[chris-s]

Well, I guess that buggers up the last few days of Brean Sands model flying week.

Chris

[bignose13]

I'm in Pontypridd, it's there on the map if you look, I can't even fly my hubsan x4 in my kitchen and wind the dog up :(

[Heliotrope]

I'm in Pontypridd, it's there on the map if you look, I can't even fly my hubsan x4 in my kitchen and wind the dog up :(

Ponty is a well known centre of unrest and rebellion (especially on a Friday night) so it's only fair that it's included  :laugh:

[Paul881]

Bloody hell, that is one hell of a big area :o. Really? :+

[Ynot6]

it's good to have this sort of heads up. thanks for passing it on Simon. nice to have a plain english, and approachably worded statement, thanks CAA. 

[Spookfish]

I think we should all be a bit worried about the last paragraph! (?)
The do do is definitely heading towards the fan!

[Shikra]

I wondered if anyone else noticed that.... I saw identical story posted the other day posted but it was overseas. New York state I think.

[Ynot6]

yes, i noticed it. i'm sure there will be tighter regulation in the not to distant future, and not all from the CAA.