When two or more aircraft are approaching to land, what determines the right-of-way?

The principle that the aircraft at a lower altitude has the right-of-way during approaches to land is based on the rules of the air and standard aviation practices. When two or more aircraft are on final approach to land, the aircraft that is lower has priority over the one that is higher. This rule is established to prevent collisions during landing and to ensure a safe and efficient flow of traffic in the vicinity of an airport.

The rationale for this rule is that a lower aircraft is closer to the runway and generally has less time and distance to make adjustments for landing. Therefore, the higher aircraft must yield to the one below it. This promotes safety by reducing the risk of conflict between aircraft at different altitudes as they approach the runway.

Other options do not align with aviation best practices. Speed is not a determining factor for right-of-way during landing, as a faster aircraft could put itself into a dangerous situation if it misjudges its landing approach. Being closest to the airport does not give that aircraft priority over others, as altitude must take precedence for safety reasons. Experience of the pilot, while important for overall flight safety, does not determine right-of-way rules; rather, they are based on the position and altitude of the aircraft relative to each other.