Attention Drone Enthusiasts: Flying Restrictions Over Reading During 2025 Festival

Flying your drone over Reading this August? You'll need to pause those plans as new regulations are set to soar into action. The UK government has announced airspace restrictions to ensure safety during the 2025 Reading Festival, effectively grounding unmanned aircraft in the area.

Key Details:

• Effective Dates: From 5:00 AM on August 20, 2025, until 5:00 PM on August 25, 2025.
• Restricted Zone: No drones are allowed to fly below 700 feet above sea level within a specified perimeter around Reading, defined by precise geographical coordinates.

Who's Exempt?

The restrictions aren't absolute. Drones may take flight if:

• Permission Granted: Operators have the green light from the Festival Republic event safety officer.
• Police Operations: The drone is operated by or for a Police Air Support Unit.

Why These Restrictions?

The decision comes from the Secretary of State for Transport, aiming to protect public safety during the bustling music festival. The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport both back this move.

What Time Are We Using?

Note that the timings mentioned are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST). So, plan accordingly!

Need More Information?

For detailed guidance, look out for the Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM). If you have immediate questions, reach out to Alan Frew, the Airspace Regulator at the Civil Aviation Authority, at 03301 382734.

Drone pilots, make sure to stay informed and compliant to keep the skies safe and secure during the festival. Enjoy the music, but keep your drones grounded unless you've got the clearance!