The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced a temporary ban on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh, from 19 July to 24 July 2024, as HMS Queen Elizabeth prepares to leave Rosyth after undergoing critical repairs.
These measures are being implemented to ensure the security and safety of the event, according to a briefing sheet published on 15 July 2024.
The restrictions, which apply specifically to drones, come at the request of Police Scotland and are deemed necessary for national defence and security.
The restricted area will be in effect from 0700 hours on 19 July until 1300 hours on 24 July 2024.
Temporary drone restrictions over the Firth of Forth for HMS Queen Elizabeth’s departure—These restrictions only apply to drones and come at request of Police, deemed necessary for security. They will be in place from 0700 hours on 19 July until 1300 hours on 24 July. pic.twitter.com/NOly53yw02
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) July 16, 2024
The briefing sheet explains: “Restricted Area (Temporary) is established in the vicinity of the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh between 19 and 24 July 2024 for the movement and sailing of HMS Queen Elizabeth that is due to take place there. Due to the high-profile status of this event and at the request of Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Secretary of State for Transport agree that it is necessary to introduce Restriction of Flying Regulations under Article 23 of the Air Navigation Order 2016 for reasons of National Defence and Security.”
These restrictions will not affect manned aircraft. Exemptions will be made for drones operated by Police Scotland or those flying under a permission issued by the Police Scotland Aviation Safety and Security Unit.
Crazy!!! Drones allowed ovwr them as they arrivw and depart from Portsmouth, but not allowed in Scotland.. ridiculous!!!
Oh don’t throw the Scot hate around, it’s nothing to do with that and they must have a good reason as MOD PR just love nice pictures for a story. George may be able to shed a light on this but I can’t remember them doing this before so 🤷🏼♂️. FYI there are many restricted areas in Scotland and the rest of the UK for both aircraft and drones. And if you doubt me just try flying one over HMNB Clyde, MOD Plod don’t play nicely. All I can think of is that intelligence / security services are advising on… Read more »
FYI I am Scottish, I am pro photographer and dronist – you may even have seen my images being used on this site. I am more than aware of where and where I cant fly over Scotland – ie you cant fly over HMNB Clyde, however you CAN fly over RNAD Glen Mallen, you can also fly over The Rhu Narrows as they are NOT restricted. So please dont tell me how to suck eggs! I have been a naval photographer for over 30 years. Every time a carrier comes to Rosyth there has been a NFZ put in place… Read more »
And so it should be my friend we should have less news bout what our lads and lasses are doing to keep them all safe, viva the Scott’s 🏴🏴🏴🇬🇧
What are “the Scott’s” ?
And did I know that ? And FYI I am also a Scot, and to be quite honest I’m more than fed up with the schism within the U.K so it was a knee jerk reaction. So I do apologise that in my ignorance as to your true identity I got your opening line completely 100% wrong. As for teaching Granny how to suck eggs, now that I know you are that Dave I would never have never have pointed out about HMNB Clyde. You know perfectly well how to keep your Tatties attached. As for the NFZ for the… Read more »
You can fly over Mallan anytime whether a carrier is there or not, the only time you cant fly is when there is a NFZ is in place, although I have never seen one in place over the area.
Do we not think this is just a security reaction to the use of drones in Ukraine, and increasing levels of russian sabotage in Europe?
It seems like a fairly sensible move, and not one to be overly upset about.
The fact that it’s only done in The Firth of Forth, not in The Firth of Clyde or even when she moves in and out of her home port of Portsmouth? Surely if it was to be “A fairly sensible move” then it would be (a) to have it permanent and (b) to have it all over The UK and not just in The Forth.
That makes no sense what so ever, what about the Airfields like Lossie ?
It makes perfect sense, no one owns the airspace. Mallen is not an airfield.
As per my previous, Airports/fields are NFZ. I have never flown at Lossie but I highly suspect it would be a permenant NFZ, like most airports as it would be a danger to other aircraft. However feel free to look up drone assist or DJ Fly, they will tell you where you can/cant fly.
If you are flying and are approaching a NFZ, most (not all) drones will prevent you from entering it.
Glen Mallan is not a RNAD as such, it is just the jetty for RNAD Glen Douglas a few miles to the east,N east. I assume you cannot fly over that?
Correcting myself, DM Glen Douglas, it is not a RNAD.
Glen Mallen is the other name for Glen Douglas and YES, you can fly over it unless a FRZ is in place… there wasnt one the last time QE came up.. spoke with MoD plod there at the time, they said they couldnt stop you flying over.
Thanks. Fascinating, I’d have thought all MoD installations would have a permanent exclusion over their airspace. Especially a place as important as GD.
Edinburgh Castle doesnt either
Well that makes a bit more sense to me. But seeming as DM Glen Douglas possibly has tens of thousands of tonnes of bombs and ammunition in it I’m surprised you can overfly it, even if it is held below ground.
Edinburgh Castle is still a MoD establishment. Dont get me wrong but you cannot fly from within MoD/Private land however if you are on public land and there is no NFZ then you can fly almost anywhere. The MoD do not own the airspace, they can get NFZ put in place but it seems Glen Mallen is not a concern to them.
There is a NFZ over the actual armaments base area as thats where the danger is, however the jetty is 100% clear. I would attach the image to show this, but I cant add an attachment to here. Maybe George can add it?
Gotcha.
Yep, I know it’s HQ Scotland.
Thanks for details on the other places.
Will H&W survive? I hear Starmer will refuse them the £200m cash injection they need.
Great to see QE returning to service after these vital repairs.
As I said before we have a drydock in greenock that could take the carriers not too far from glen mallen and across the river from faslane.why does it need to always go to rosyth
Probably because they were assembled there & that’s where the engineering expertise on the QE’s is.
Inchgreen maybe big enough but it is in a dreadful state and not fit for purpose and as Frank62 says all the expertise is at Rosyth its also a lot more secure than Inchgreen.
Time to ban all civilian drones near any military complex or civil airport. Remember the chaos they caused at Stansted? Fly them in a field to satisfy your urge to move on from Airfix models. Now watch the biters 😅
They are already banned from airports and most military complexes. It’s the custom built drones that get thru without the inbuilt GPS and detection software.