Drones are to be banned above Snaefell summit for up to five days next month while a mast replacement scheme takes place.

An application submitted by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to replace the existing 50-metre mast at the summit of the island’s only mountain was unanimously approved by the island’s planning committee last month.

The tower supports essential air traffic communication services for civilian, freight, military and emergency aviation, including flights operating to and from Ronaldsway Airport.

It also hosts Coastguard communications, providing vital maritime radio coverage for ferries, commercial shipping, fishing vessels, leisure craft and search and rescue operations throughout the Irish Sea.

Telecommunications equipment located on the tower provides mobile phone coverage across the Snaefell area and surrounding uplands, benefiting residents, tourists, emergency services, TT spectators and users of the Manx Electric Railway.

Regulations have been brought to Tynwald to restrict the flying of small unmanned aircraft over the summit from Wednesday, October 7 until the end of Sunday, October 11.

An explanatory memorandum says that the regulations are necessary to ‘protect helicopter underslung load operations’ that will be taking place.

The item is listed as a negative resolution on the Tynwald register of business, meaning that it can become law without a Tynwald vote.

Members of the planning committee heard that the site has been used for communications purposes for around 75 years and that the existing tower has reached the end of its operational life.

The proposal will see the existing 50m tower removed with a replacement mast of the same height erected, its upper 18m constructed from timber and the lower 32m being a lattice steel framework.

Mounted to the new tower will be 19 NATS antennas, five Coastguard antennas, three Manx Telecom antennas and one BAE transmission dish.

In his report recommending approval, senior planning officer Jason Singleton said: ‘The benefits of providing the replacement radio communication tower and associated communication equipment are considered to outweigh the limited visual harm in this location resulting from the development.’

Objector David Bellamy from Manx Wildlife Trust said the Trust did not object in principle to the replacement of nationally important communications infrastructure on Snaefell but had significant concerns about its impact on the ecological sensitive montane environment which is home to a number of rare and legally protected plant species, lichens and habitats.

There is also a second mast at the summit owned by the Department of Home Affairs.

The application highlighted the challenges involved in replacing the structure at such an exposed location.

The planning statement said: ‘The logistics of this site are complex due to the limited access available. At one stage, NATS considered using military helicopters, but this is no longer an option.

‘Civilian helicopters may potentially be used, although their lifting capacity is significantly lower.

‘However, they are likely to be used for installing the upper sections of the tower to reduce working at height and minimise weather-related risks. The majority of materials will therefore be transported to the summit using the existing railway.’