Right-of-way rules

One aircraft has the right of way, the other gives way and keeps clear; CAR 602.19 sets which, by situation:

• Converging at about the same height (power-driven): the aircraft on the right has the right of way, like yielding to the right on the road.
• Head-on or nearly so: each turns right, so the paths split apart.
• Overtaking: the aircraft being passed has the right of way; the overtaking aircraft gives way and passes on the right.
• Landing: an aircraft on final or landing comes before aircraft in flight or on the ground; when two are coming in to land, the lower one has the right of way, but must not cut in front of or overtake the other.
• Category priority (CAR 602.19(2)): a power-driven aeroplane gives way to balloons, gliders, and airships, and to any aircraft towing an object or carrying a slung load. Among those, an airship gives way to gliders and balloons, and a glider gives way to balloons; a balloon has the right of way over every category (TC AIM RAC). The regs do not rank a towing aircraft against gliders or airships, only above power-driven aeroplanes.
• In distress: an aircraft in an emergency has the right of way over everything else.

Traps: turning left head-on (both turn right), thinking the higher aircraft has priority on approach (it is the lower, being closer to landing), and applying the "aircraft on the right" rule between different categories (category priority governs there).

Practice