Right-of-Way Rules in the Air

Converging, head-on and overtaking

When two aircraft of the same category are converging at approximately the same level, the one that has the other on its right gives way, and should avoid crossing directly ahead of the other unless well clear. This mirrors the maritime convention that many students already half-remember, which helps recall but also invites confusion if the categories differ, because the right-hand rule only decides ties within the same category.

When two aircraft are approaching head-on, or close enough to a reciprocal course that a risk of collision exists, both aircraft alter course to the right. Neither one has priority: the rule exists precisely because waiting to see who yields first is not survivable at closing speed.

Overtaking is different again. The aircraft being overtaken keeps its right of way regardless of category, and the overtaking aircraft, whether climbing, descending, or level, must alter course to the right and remain clear until it is past and well clear. An aircraft counts as overtaking another when it approaches from behind and to the side rather than head-on, the classic definition being that at night it can see only the other aircraft's rear light, not either of its side navigation lights.

The priority ladder

Beyond the three geometries sits a ranking between kinds of aircraft that overrides the plain right-hand rule whenever the converging aircraft are not the same category. Power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft give way to airships, gliders and balloons. Airships give way to gliders and balloons. Gliders give way to balloons. Sitting above the entire ladder, every other aircraft gives way to one that is towing something, such as a glider on tow, and to any aircraft known to be in distress.

• Highest priority: aircraft in distress, and aircraft towing another aircraft or object
• Balloons: give way to nothing except the two categories above
• Gliders: give way only to balloons, distressed aircraft and towing aircraft
• Airships: give way to balloons and gliders
• Powered heavier-than-air aircraft: give way to all of the above

Where surface rules ride alongside this topic

The exam often pairs a right-of-way stem with the related surface rule: an aircraft taxiing on the manoeuvring area must give way to aircraft that are landing, about to land, or already taking off. The link is deliberate. Both sets of rules exist to remove ambiguity in exactly the moments when a mistake is least recoverable, so learning them as one family, rather than as two separate lists, pays off whenever the exam blends them into a single scenario.