What are the general right-of-way rules between different categories of aircraft in flight? Answer in under 100 words.

Details / How it works

§ 91.113(b) requires each person operating an aircraft—whether flying under IFR or VFR—to maintain vigilance to see and avoid other aircraft whenever weather permits; when another aircraft has right-of-way, the pilot must give way and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear.

For same-category converging traffic at approximately the same altitude (not head-on), the aircraft to the other's right has right-of-way.

In a head-on encounter, each pilot alters course to the right. When overtaking, the aircraft approached from behind within 70 degrees of its heading has right-of-way, and the overtaking pilot must alter course to the right to pass well clear.

On landing, an aircraft on final approach or landing has right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or on the surface; among two or more aircraft approaching an airport, the lower-altitude aircraft has right-of-way.

Numbers & thresholds

Exceptions & edge cases

• Water operations: § 91.113 does not apply to operation of an aircraft on water; seaplane and amphibious aircraft operations on water are governed by separate maritime rules such as COLREGS.
• Distress override: An aircraft experiencing an emergency, mechanical failure, or other urgent situation has right-of-way over all other air traffic, superseding the category hierarchy.
• Landing limits: An aircraft on final approach may not use its priority to force an already-landed aircraft off the runway, nor may the lower-altitude aircraft cut in front of or overtake an aircraft established on final approach.