§ 91.113 Right-of-way rules: Except water operations
14 CFR Part 91 — Subpart B—Flight Rules
Official text — 14 CFR § 91.113
REGULATION — LEGALLY BINDING(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 powered aircraft.
(3) An airship has the right-of-way over all other powered aircraft, except for an aircraft towing or refueling other aircraft.
(4) An aircraft towing or refueling other aircraft has the right-of-way over all other powered 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.
Reproduced from the eCFR. Text as amended through 2026-07-31. Verify against the official source before relying on it operationally.
SkeyeMentor explanation
Educational — not an FAA sourceIn plain English
The right-of-way rules for aircraft other than water operations, including the vigilance requirement, the distress priority, the category hierarchy, and the specific rules for converging, approaching head-on, overtaking, and landing.
Why it matters
These rules apply regardless of whether you are VFR or IFR when weather conditions permit. See and avoid is the underlying duty.
Common mistake
Assuming an aircraft on final approach always has right of way over everything. The section attaches conditions, including a prohibition on cutting in front of or overtaking another aircraft on final.
Quick example
Rank an airship, a glider, a balloon and an airplane by right of way using paragraph (d).
Written and reviewed by the SkeyeMentor editorial team. This explanation is a study aid, not legal advice, and it is not part of the official text above. Verify current requirements through the official source before relying on them operationally.
Is this a regulation?
Yes — this is regulatory text and is legally binding.
Text published in the Code of Federal Regulations. Regulations are legally binding on pilots and operators.
Yes — this is the text of a Federal Aviation Regulation. It is legally binding. The explanation below it is SkeyeMentor educational content, not part of the regulation.