Part 91General Operating and Flight Rules

14 CFR 91.113 — Right-of-Way Rules

Establishes right-of-way hierarchy: aircraft in distress has priority, then balloons, gliders, airships, aircraft towing, with converging and head-on rules.

Regulation Text

When weather conditions permit, each person operating an aircraft shall maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid other aircraft. Right-of-way: An aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over all other air traffic. When aircraft of the same category converge at approximately the same altitude, the aircraft to the other's right has the right-of-way. When aircraft are approaching each other head-on, each pilot shall alter course to the right. An aircraft being overtaken has the right-of-way. Category priority: balloon, then glider, then airship, then airplane/rotorcraft towing, then airplane/rotorcraft.

Note: This is an excerpt. Refer to the full regulation in eCFR for the complete text.

Plain-English Explanation

These are the rules of the road for the sky. Aircraft in distress always have priority. Otherwise, balloons yield to nothing, gliders yield only to balloons, and powered aircraft yield to everything above. When two aircraft of the same type converge, the one on the right has the right of way. Head-on: both turn right. Overtaking: pass on the right. Landing aircraft have priority over those in flight. This is one of the most heavily tested regulations on every FAA exam.

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