If on a night flight, the pilot of aircraft A observes only the green wingtip light of aircraft B, which aircraft has the right-of-way?

When a pilot observes only the green wingtip light of another aircraft at night, it indicates that the other aircraft is flying from left to right relative to their position. Under FAA regulations, specifically the responsibilities set forth in the right-of-way rules, an aircraft that sees another aircraft's green light is typically in a position where it must yield to the other aircraft. However, it is important to analyze the situation carefully.

In this scenario, the pilot of Aircraft A seeing only the green light suggests that Aircraft B is to the right of Aircraft A and, assuming equal altitudes, Aircraft A is considered to have the right-of-way because it is approaching an aircraft from behind or at an angle where it can see the green light. As per general aviation rules, when two aircraft are approaching each other, the one that sees only the green light must yield to the aircraft that shows a red light in such situations, as the aircraft showing the green light is flying on a path that puts it potentially in conflict with the aircraft seeing that light.

Thus, because Aircraft A can observe the green light from Aircraft B without seeing its red light, Aircraft A does not have an immediate conflict situation and therefore maintains the right-of-way. In flight operations, the understanding of light