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 in flight or manoeuvring on the ground gives way to an aircraft landing or about to land (602.19(7)). When two are approaching the same aerodrome to land, the lower one has the right of way (602.19(8)), but it must not overtake or cut in front of a higher aircraft that is in the final stages of an approach to land (602.19(9)). The restriction is that narrow: the higher aircraft must actually be in the final stages of its approach.
• Giving way in general (602.19(4)): whoever gives way must not pass over, under, or ahead of the other unless far enough off that there is no risk of collision.
• 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