📘14 CFR §91.113 - Right of Way Rules_ Who Yields in the Air

✏️ Plain-English Summary:

When two aircraft are on a collision course, someone has to yield. §91.113 defines who has the right-of-way in different flight situations — converging, overtaking, landing, and more. These rules exist to keep pilots predictable and prevent midair collisions.

✅ Key Right-of-Way Scenarios (Memorize These!)

🛩 Aircraft in distress → Always has right-of-way

💨 Converging at same altitude:

• The aircraft on the right has the right-of-way

• Think: "Right is right"

⬆️ Overtaking:

• The aircraft being overtaken has the right-of-way

• You must pass to the right and stay clear

🛬 Landing:

• Aircraft on final approach has the right-of-way over others in the pattern or on the surface

• If multiple aircraft are landing, the one lower on final has priority (⚠️ But don’t dive to get there first — safety still matters!)

✈️ Aircraft category priority (least maneuverable gets priority):

1. Balloon

2. Glider

3. Airship

4. Airplane

5. Rotorcraft (helicopter)

🧠 Memory Aid: “Big Giant Airships Are Really fast” — but the slower ones have the right-of-way!

✈️ Scenario:

You’re on base leg in the DA40, and another Cessna is on a long final — lower than you, but slower. ✅ That Cessna has the right-of-way. You must extend your downwind or go around if needed.

You’re being overtaken by a faster plane while cruising. ✅ They must go around you on the right — you maintain course and altitude.

🧠 Checkride Trap:

"What if I'm in a glider and someone else is in a balloon?" ✅ The balloon has priority — least maneuverable wins.

🎓 CFI Teaching Tip:

Give your student a whiteboard or sticky-note set of examples and ask:

“Who yields here?” Use diagrams: base-to-final, head-on convergence, passing in cruise, final approach conflicts. Great for chair-flying or tabletop scenarios.

📚 References:

• FAR §91.113 — Right-of-Way Rules

• AIM 5-4-21 — Collision Avoidance

• PHAK Chapter 13 — Collision Avoidance Procedures