A temporary UAS Geographical Zone—designated T3—covering the entire Dublin Control Zone expired at 06:00 on 3 December 2025 after a three-day prohibition on recreational and commercial drone flights. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) introduced the ban at the request of the Department of Justice for “national security reasons”; only operators holding specific-category approvals and Garda permits were allowed to fly.
While the IAA did not disclose the threat assessment, aviation sources say the measure coincided with intelligence regarding potential drone interference at high-profile public events in the capital. The blanket restriction overlapped existing drone ‘red zones’ near Dublin Airport, forcing media outlets and construction firms to postpone planned aerial work.
![Temporary ‘No-Drone Zone’ over Dublin airspace lifted at 06:00 but highlights security trend]()
For corporate mobility teams, the T3 notice served as a reminder that drone-based site surveys and marketing footage require contingency planning. Failure to comply is a criminal offence, and insurance policies may be void if operators breach a temporary zone—even inadvertently via automated flight paths.
Although the ban has lapsed, the IAA warned that similar short-notice restrictions could re-appear and urged operators to subscribe to its NOTAM alerts. Businesses using drones for logistics trials or facility inspections should maintain up-to-date operational approvals and monitor the IAA’s interactive map before deployment.
The episode illustrates a growing European trend toward rapid-response airspace controls to counter security risks, with implications for companies integrating drones into supply chains or creative services.
While the IAA did not disclose the threat assessment, aviation sources say the measure coincided with intelligence regarding potential drone interference at high-profile public events in the capital. The blanket restriction overlapped existing drone ‘red zones’ near Dublin Airport, forcing media outlets and construction firms to postpone planned aerial work.
For corporate mobility teams, the T3 notice served as a reminder that drone-based site surveys and marketing footage require contingency planning. Failure to comply is a criminal offence, and insurance policies may be void if operators breach a temporary zone—even inadvertently via automated flight paths.
Although the ban has lapsed, the IAA warned that similar short-notice restrictions could re-appear and urged operators to subscribe to its NOTAM alerts. Businesses using drones for logistics trials or facility inspections should maintain up-to-date operational approvals and monitor the IAA’s interactive map before deployment.
The episode illustrates a growing European trend toward rapid-response airspace controls to counter security risks, with implications for companies integrating drones into supply chains or creative services.
