692 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 91.115 

(e) 

Approaching head-on. When air-

craft are approaching each other head- 
on, or nearly so, each pilot of each air-
craft 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, ex-
cept that they shall not take advan-
tage 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. 

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34294, Aug. 18, 1989, as 
amended by Amdt. 91–282, 69 FR 44880, July 
27, 2004] 

§ 91.115

Right-of-way rules: Water op-

erations. 

(a) 

General. Each person operating an 

aircraft on the water shall, insofar as 
possible, keep clear of all vessels and 
avoid impeding their navigation, and 
shall give way to any vessel or other 
aircraft that is given the right-of-way 
by any rule of this section. 

(b) 

Crossing. When aircraft, or an air-

craft and a vessel, are on crossing 
courses, the aircraft or vessel to the 
other’s right has the right-of-way. 

(c) 

Approaching head-on. When air-

craft, or an aircraft and a vessel, are 
approaching head-on, or nearly so, each 
shall alter its course to the right to 
keep well clear. 

(d) 

Overtaking. Each aircraft or vessel 

that is being overtaken has the right- 
of-way, and the one overtaking shall 
alter course to keep well clear. 

(e) 

Special circumstances. When air-

craft, or an aircraft and a vessel, ap-
proach so as to involve risk of colli-
sion, each aircraft or vessel shall pro-
ceed with careful regard to existing 
circumstances, including the limita-
tions of the respective craft. 

§ 91.117

Aircraft speed. 

(a) Unless otherwise authorized by 

the Administrator, no person may op-
erate an aircraft below 10,000 feet MSL 
at an indicated airspeed of more than 
250 knots (288 m.p.h.). 

(b) Unless otherwise authorized or re-

quired by ATC, no person may operate 
an aircraft at or below 2,500 feet above 
the surface within 4 nautical miles of 
the primary airport of a Class C or 
Class D airspace area at an indicated 
airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 
mph.). This paragraph (b) does not 
apply to any operations within a Class 
B airspace area. Such operations shall 
comply with paragraph (a) of this sec-
tion. 

(c) No person may operate an aircraft 

in the airspace underlying a Class B 
airspace area designated for an airport 
or in a VFR corridor designated 
through such a Class B airspace area, 
at an indicated airspeed of more than 
200 knots (230 mph). 

(d) If the minimum safe airspeed for 

any particular operation is greater 
than the maximum speed prescribed in 
this section, the aircraft may be oper-
ated at that minimum speed. 

[Doc. No. 18334, 54 FR 34292, Aug. 18, 1989, as 
amended by Amdt. 91–219, 55 FR 34708, Aug. 
24, 1990; Amdt. 91–227, 56 FR 65657, Dec. 17, 
1991; Amdt. 91–233, 58 FR 43554, Aug. 17, 1993] 

§ 91.119

Minimum safe altitudes: Gen-

eral. 

Except when necessary for takeoff or 

landing, no person may operate an air-
craft below the following altitudes: 

(a) 

Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if 

a power unit fails, an emergency land-
ing without undue hazard to persons or 
property on the surface. 

(b) 

Over congested areas. Over any 

congested area of a city, town, or set-
tlement, or over any open air assembly 
of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet 
above the highest obstacle within a 
horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the 
aircraft. 

(c) 

Over other than congested areas. An 

altitude of 500 feet above the surface, 
except over open water or sparsely pop-
ulated areas. In those cases, the air-
craft may not be operated closer than 
500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, 
or structure. 

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