A small unmanned aircraft and a manned helicopter are converging at the same altitude. What must the remote pilot do?

Part 107 states the right-of-way rule without qualification: a small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all other aircraft, and must not operate in a manner that interferes with or creates a collision hazard with them. There is no reciprocity in it. A manned aircraft is not required to see the small unmanned aircraft, is often physically unable to, and carries people. Yielding means manoeuvring clear well before the geometry becomes marginal, which in practice usually means descending promptly and, if necessary, landing — descent is the fastest way to open vertical separation and takes the small aircraft out of the manned aircraft's operating band. Helicopters are the specific case that trips people up, because they routinely operate low, off airports, and without a fixed route: medical flights, law enforcement, news, and survey work all appear at low altitude with no warning. The 500-foot minimum altitude rule does not help here, since helicopters are expressly permitted to operate below it.

Part 107 requires a small unmanned aircraft to yield the right of way to all other aircraft without exception, manoeuvring clear well before separation becomes marginal.

Part 107 requires small unmanned aircraft to yield the right of way to all other aircraft and prohibits operating in a manner that creates a collision hazard. Helicopters may operate below 500 feet AGL where it can be done without hazard.

You Always Yield. There is no case where the manned aircraft gives way to you.

Watch for options importing manned right-of-way conventions such as aircraft-on-the-right or altitude minimums. None of them apply.

• •Climbing to avoid, putting the aircraft into the manned aircraft's path
• •Holding position and expecting the other aircraft to manoeuvre
• •Assuming manned aircraft will see a small unmanned aircraft