Drone operators in and around Merthyr Tydfil have a restriction to check for tomorrow, 21 October 2026, under The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil) Regulations 2026.
The regulations' explanatory note says they "impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil for an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster on 21st October 2026."
What is restricted, and when
The restriction reads: "no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 2,600 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by a circle having a radius of 1.5 nautical miles which is centred at 514130N 0032057W."
It applies "during the period beginning with 0600 hours and ending with 1700 hours on 21st October 2026". Those times are in Co-ordinated Universal Time, which the regulations note "is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST)", so in local time the restriction runs from 7am to 6pm.
The restriction is written for unmanned aircraft only, and the height limit is measured above mean sea level rather than above the ground.
The one exemption
The restriction does not apply "to any unmanned aircraft flying in accordance with a permission issued by the South Wales Police Special Events Support Unit." The explanatory note says that unit "may be contacted as notified."
Check the centre point, not a place name
The area is a circle defined by a centre coordinate and a radius, so operators with work booked near Aberfan tomorrow should plot that point and the 1.5 nautical mile radius rather than rely on a place name.
The regulations were made on 30 September 2026, signed on the authority of the Secretary of State for Transport. The explanatory note says: "Full details of these Regulations will be promulgated by Briefing Sheet and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM)."