Flying with others (right of way)

The first rule: see and avoid, always

You, the pilot in command, are responsible for avoiding a collision at all times. Not "except during take-off and landing". Not "except when ATC is talking to an aircraft near you". Not "except when someone is overtaking you". Even if you have the right of way, you must still act to avoid a collision if the other pilot does not.

A controller who sees you on radar outside his controlled airspace is not responsible for keeping an airplane away from you. In VFR flight both pilots are responsible for seeing and avoiding. Exam statement "it becomes the controller's responsibility to avoid a collision" → false.

The Canadian Aviation Regulations: who gives way (CAR 602.19)

Situation	Rule	Who moves?
Head-on (or nearly head-on)	Both aircraft alter heading to the right.	Both
Converging at about the same altitude	The aircraft that has the other on its right gives way.	The one who sees the other on the right
Different categories converging	Power-driven (airplanes, helicopters, paramotors) give way to airships, gliders and balloons. Airships give way to gliders and balloons. Gliders (that is us) give way to balloons. Power-driven aircraft give way to aircraft towing something or carrying a slung load.	The "less manoeuvrable" category has priority
Overtaking	The aircraft being overtaken has the right of way. The overtaking aircraft keeps clear and passes on the right.	The faster one, from behind
Landing	An aircraft landing or on final approach has right of way over aircraft in flight. When two are approaching to land, the lower one has the right of way, but it must not cut in front of or overtake one on final.	The higher one
Emergency	Everyone gives way to an aircraft in an emergency.	Everyone else
Take-off and landing	Do not take off or land while there is any risk of collision with aircraft, vehicles, vessels or structures on the path.	You

Paraglider meets a powered ultralight on approach to the same field. By category, the power-driven ultralight gives way to the glider, so the paraglider has the right of way. Never rely on the other pilot knowing this.

Sailplane below you joins your thermal. Sailplane rules say sailplanes give way to sailplanes above them (their wing blocks their view downward). Our wing blocks our view upward, so hang glider and paraglider rules give the lower glider the right of way. The two systems conflict, so neither can assume priority. Extra caution, more separation, and leave the thermal if in doubt.

HPAC rules of the ridge

The CARs say nothing about ridge soaring or thermalling. These are HPAC rules (the sailplane community uses the same). You must know them for the P2 short answers, word for word.

1. Head-on along a ridge: give way to the right. Both pilots move right if they can. The pilot who has the ridge on the right cannot move right (that is into the hill), so the pilot with the ridge on the left turns right, away from the hill, and passes on the outside. In exam words: when approaching another glider head-on, one must give way to the right**.
2. Overtaking along a ridge: pass between the overtaken glider and the ridge. Why? The slower glider will make its reversing turn away from the hill. If you are outside, you collide. If you are between it and the ridge, you are on the side it will never turn toward. Only overtake if there is room and you are not forcing the other pilot toward the hill.
3. All reversing turns are made away from the hill. Never turn toward the ridge.
4. The lowest glider has the right of way. It has the fewest options and the least room. Higher pilots move.
5. Clear your turns. Before every change of direction, look in the direction of the turn, then behind you, for traffic. In exam words: when soaring with other gliders, it is important to clear your turns before changing direction.

HPAC rules for thermalling

1. The first glider in the thermal sets the direction of turn. Everyone who joins turns the same way. If you enter a thermal already occupied, you turn the way the others turn. You do not choose.
2. Join the thermal on the outside, tangentially, at the same speed, on the opposite side of the circle from the nearest glider. Never cut into the middle.
3. A lower glider that is climbing faster than you has the right of way. The one above must give way (widen the circle, move out), because the higher pilot can see the lower one, and the lower pilot cannot see up through his wing.
4. Keep looking. In a gaggle, scan constantly, keep separation, and increase separation in turbulence (a collapse can throw a wing 20 m sideways). If you are uncomfortable in a gaggle, leave it.

Landing traffic

• The lower glider has priority to land. If another glider is just below you on approach, you give way and let it land first. It is not "no priorities at a landing zone", and you do not have priority because you are higher.
• Do not cut in front of a glider on final.
• After landing, clear the landing area at once.

Launch traffic and other aircraft

• Do not launch into traffic soaring in front of launch. Wait for a gap.
• Wait 30 seconds behind the previous glider in light wind (wake turbulence).
• Formation flying (flying deliberately close together) is allowed only by pre-arrangement between the pilots, and inside a control zone also with ATC.
• Other aircraft: gliders have priority over powered aircraft on paper. Airplane and helicopter pilots often cannot see a paraglider until very late. Assume you are invisible. Turn away early and clearly, and stay well clear of the wake behind and below any aircraft.