A ‘no drone zone’ is being put in place over Royal Portrush Golf Club, Co Antrim throughout the Open Championship 2019.
The decision was made by Secretary of State for Transport, MP Chris Grayling, in the interest of public safety.
The PSNI shared news of the air exclusion zone on social media, saying: “Just a reminder that an air exclusion zone will be in place in Portrush from 4am to 10pm every day from this Saturday, July 13, to Monday, July 22, inclusive.”
The no fly zone was passed in April and comes into force this month.
It means that no aircraft is allowed to fly below 2,500ft above sea level within 1.5 nautical miles of the tournament.
This does not, however, include aircraft operating on behalf of the PSNI, Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, the Irish Coastguard and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, or with the permission from a number of senior PSNI officers.
The regulation states: “The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the vicinity of the Royal Portrush Golf Club, County Antrim, by reason of the intended gathering of large numbers of persons at the Open Golf tournament being held there.
“The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016(a).”
Anyone flouting the strict no fly zone could face prosecution.
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