Drone Rules for Rushley Island
Drone operators in south Essex must exercise heightened awareness due to a temporary, lit construction crane in Rochford reaching heights up to 150ft AGL (162ft AMSL). The physical obstruction is located within a low-flying aircraft protection corridor and is active until June 15, 2026.
Rochford Lit Crane Obstruction Advisory
A temporary navigation warning is active for a tall, illuminated construction crane operating at coordinates 51°33'46"N, 000°51'24"E in Rochford, Essex. This structure introduces a physical collision hazard into the lower airspace, standing at 150ft Above Ground Level (AGL) and reaching a peak altitude of 162ft Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL).
Crucially, this obstacle is located within the Thames Valley Avoidance Area, a specialized flight corridor designated to protect low-flying military and civilian crewed aircraft during both day and night operations. Because this structure sits within the immediate vicinity of London Southend Airport (LSA), it reduces vertical separation margins for aircraft operating in the local airfield environment.
Remote pilots must maintain a strict, uninterrupted visual line of sight (VLOS) with their drones when operating in this area. It is critical to continuously scan the horizon for low-altitude helicopters or light aircraft navigating the low-flying avoidance corridor, and ensure clear defensive horizontal separation from the crane's maximum boom radius.