Mark Swan, Director of Airspace Policy at the CAA, said: “While the security restrictions required by the Government to provide a safe and secure Games have had a significant impact on many airspace users, the efforts made by the CAA, MoD and others have ensured that as many people as possible were still able to fly. I am extremely grateful to the team of MoD controllers and assistants who manned the Atlas facility and did such a sterling job in providing a high quality service.” 

Commenting on the role played by the recreational and general aviation community Mark added: “Throughout the build up to, and implementation of, the restrictions the aviation community has undertaken some excellent collaborative work through associations and representative groups to help spread the detail of the changes to pilots and this, without doubt, contributed significantly to the successful outcome. We have had a small number of infringements, but generally we’ve been extremely impressed by the professionalism and attitude displayed by pilots in coming to terms with the additional requirements.”  

From an MoD perspective Air Vice-Marshal Stuart Atha said ‘‘I would like to thank the General Aviation community for their cooperation during the Olympics airspace restrictions. At the heart of the airspace control measures was the need to create a known air environment so that potential threats could be identified. Inevitably, the measures adopted were a balance between the security requirements and those delivering scheduled services and the General Aviation community. 

“Throughout this I am extremely grateful to the aviation community for their patience and support and how they worked with us to develop our procedures. I would also like to recognize the highly valued support of our colleagues from the CAA and NATS, and indeed from my own team in ATLAS control, many of whom were drafted in from across the wider Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. 

“By working together we developed a system that was a crucial part of the contribution made by airmen, civilian and military, to a safe and secure Olympic Games. That security underpinned a successful Games for Britain, as hosts and as competitors. Because of that, the triumphs of Olympians like Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis or Bradley Wiggins will rightly be the over-riding memories of these Games.” 

Following the removal of the main Olympic changes a smaller set of restrictions will remain to protect the main Paralympics sites until September 12 and various shorter-term airspace restrictions will cover other venues. Restricted airspace R005 at the Weymouth sailing venues remains in place until 18:00 local on 8 September.  

The remaining restrictions are primarily a smaller Prohibited Zone (P114) centered on the Olympic Park and two smaller prohibited zones over the rowing at Eton Dorney and the athlete’s village at Egham. There is also temporary restricted airspace over other venues, some of which, such as Brands Hatch, have not previously been subject to airspace restrictions during the Games.