Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services
Annex 2: the rules
Annex 2 contains the Rules of the Air. Candidates must know the distinction between instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR), the right-of-way rules, cruising levels, and the rules of the air over the high seas, where the Annex applies without exception. Key concepts include the semi-circular rule for cruising levels, minimum safe heights, and the requirement for a flight plan for IFR and for controlled VFR flights.
Right of way
An aircraft in distress has priority; then balloons, gliders and airships have priority over powered aircraft; converging aircraft give way to the one on the right; an overtaking aircraft keeps clear; landing aircraft have priority over those on the ground. These ordering rules are frequently tested with a scenario.
Annex 11: services
Annex 11 covers Air Traffic Services, including flight information service, alerting service, and air traffic control service. It defines controlled aerodromes, control zones, control areas, and the ATS unit responsibilities. The distinction between an advisory service and a control service matters: only ATC issues clearances.
Traps
Examiners mix Annex 2 with Annex 11, or claim that VFR is prohibited at night (it is not, if the State permits and conditions are met). They also confuse a clearance with an instruction and test whether the semi-circular rule applies to VFR (it applies to IFR cruising levels; VFR uses a different level system).
Worked example
Two aircraft converge at the same level, one from the left and one from the right. The aircraft on the left gives way, because the one on the right has the right of way.