Definition
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 91.113) that establish which aircraft must yield to another when their flight paths converge or conflict, based on aircraft category, relative position, and phase of flight.
Plain English
The rules that decide which aircraft has to give way when two aircraft might get too close to each other.
Context Anchor
A student pilot meets right-of-way rules in ground lessons, pre-solo training, traffic pattern work, airport operations, and any discussion of avoiding other aircraft.
Derivation
“Right-of-way” comes from older road, rail, and legal use meaning the right to pass along a route before someone else. In aviation, it means priority between aircraft, but it does not remove the pilot’s duty to avoid a collision.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing these rules prevents collisions and satisfies legal requirements under visual flight rules.
Intuition Check
Do not read “right-of-way” as permission to force your way through. Even if your aircraft has priority, you must still watch for traffic and take action if needed to avoid a collision.
Example Sentence 1
Because the other aircraft was approaching from his right at the same altitude, the student applied the right-of-way rules and yielded.
Example Sentence 2
When two airplanes converge at the same altitude, each turns right to follow right-of-way rules.