Federal Aviation Regulations
14 CFR § 91.113 — Right-of-way rules: Except water operations
Volume 2 · Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 2025 annual edition. U.S. Government work — public domain (17 U.S.C. §105).
The regulation, in full
Sec. 91.113 Right-of-way rules: Except water operations.
(a) Inapplicability. This section does not apply to the operation of
an aircraft on water.
(b) General. When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether
an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight
rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an
aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft. When a rule of this
section gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give
way to that aircraft and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless
well clear.
(c) In distress. An aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over
all other air traffic.
(d) Converging. When aircraft of the same category are converging at
approximately the same altitude (except head-on, or nearly so), the
aircraft to the other's right has the right-of-way. If the aircraft are
of different categories--
(1) A balloon has the right-of-way over any other category of
aircraft;
(2) A glider has the right-of-way over an airship, powered
parachute, weight-shift-control aircraft, airplane, or rotorcraft.
(3) An airship has the right-of-way over a powered parachute,
weight-shift-control aircraft, airplane, or rotorcraft.
However, an aircraft towing or refueling other aircraft has the
right-of-way over all other engine-driven aircraft.
(e) Approaching head-on. When aircraft are approaching each other
head-on, or nearly so, each pilot of each aircraft shall alter course to
the right.
(f) Overtaking. Each aircraft that is being overtaken has the right-
of-way and each pilot of an overtaking aircraft shall alter course to
the right to pass well clear.
(g) Landing. Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while
landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or
operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of
this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already
landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach.
When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of
landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way, but it
shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which
is on final approach to land or to overtake that aircraft.
[Docket 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 91-282,
69 FR 44880, July 27, 2004]
Effective Date Note: Amendments to Sec. 91.113 were published by
Docket FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. 60-8, 89 FR 92485, Nov. 21, 2024, effective
Jan. 21, 2025.What this means for the knowledge test
Our own study notes for this section — reviewed through our AI instructional-review system, not by a certificated flight instructor. Not an authoritative source.
An aircraft in distress has the right of way over all other air traffic. When aircraft of the same category are converging, the aircraft to the other’s right has the right of way. When two aircraft approach head-on, each pilot must alter course to the right. An aircraft being overtaken has the right of way, and the overtaking aircraft must pass well clear to the right. Regardless of any right of way, a pilot must use vigilance to see and avoid other aircraft.
14 CFR 91.113
Right-of-way rules determine which aircraft must yield. An aircraft in distress has the right of way over all other traffic. When two aircraft of the same category are converging, the one to the other’s right has the right of way. In a head-on approach, each pilot shall alter course to the right. When overtaking, the aircraft being overtaken has the right of way and the overtaking aircraft passes to the right. A general order of priority gives way from most maneuverable to least: aircraft yield to balloons, gliders, and airships, and powered aircraft give way to those towing or refueling.
14 CFR 91.113
Lessons that cover § 91.113
Practice questions on § 91.113 (4)
Which aircraft has the right of way over all other air traffic?
Answer An aircraft in distress
An aircraft in distress has the right of way over all other air traffic because the emergency takes priority.
Two airplanes of the same category are converging at the same altitude. Which one has the right of way?
Answer The airplane on the other’s right
When aircraft of the same category are converging, the aircraft to the other’s right has the right of way; the other pilot must give way.
Two airplanes are converging at the same altitude. Which one has the right of way?
Answer The airplane on the other’s right
When two aircraft of the same category are converging, the aircraft to the other’s right has the right of way.
When two aircraft approach head-on, what should each pilot do?
Answer Each pilot alters course to the right
In a head-on or nearly head-on approach, each pilot shall alter course to the right.