| Aviators are people who fly aircraft either for pleasure or for a job.
The term is normally applied to pilots but it can be applied more broadly, for example to include people such as wing-walkers who regularly take part in an
aerobatic display sequence. The term aviatrix is sometimes used of women
flyers, reflecting the word's Latin root.
The term was more commonly used in the early days of aviation and has
connotations of bravery and adventure. As Steve Fossett has shown with
his 2002 solo flight around the globe in a helium
balloon, then his nonstop solo jet circumnavigation that completed on March 3, 2005, there are still challenges to be flown and records to be
broken.
Anyone can fly an aircraft, with or without a certificate. However, at all times the aircraft must be under the operational
control of a properly certified and current pilot, who is responsible for the safe and legal completion of the flight. The
absolute authority given to the Pilot in Command is derived from that of a ship’s captain.
Although U.S. President Wilson proposed a licensing scheme in 1919, it was not until
1926, under the Air Commerce Act, that the Federal Government instituted pilot testing and
certification. Today, every country has a national authority governing pilot licensing (see the article for information on license requirements). The Federal Aviation Administration controls the
issuance of pilot certificates in the U.S.
Well-known aviators
People largely known for their contributions to the story of aviation:
Other famous military pilots:
People from other walks of life with aviation in their history:
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