civil aviation
Non-military air travel
Civil aviation covers all non-military flying—commercial airlines, private aircraft, cargo transport, and flight training.
The term distinguishes everyday air travel and transport from military operations: Civil aviation authorities regulate everything from pilot licensing to aircraft maintenance.
Most countries have a civil aviation agency that oversees safety standards and airspace management.
Fit for flight
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- safety standardsRequired protective measures
- FAAU.S. flight safety agency
- bilateral agreementContract between two parties
slots · noise abatement · emissions standards · accident investigation · black box · flight data recorder · inspection
Aerial journey by aircraft
- passengerTraveler, not operator
- boarding passAirline entry document
- check-inRegistering one's presence
- carry-onBag kept in cabin
baggage claim · departure lounge · jetlag · inflight · economy class · business class · first class · frequent flyer
At the endpoint
- runwayPaved path for planes
- control towerAviation guidance facility
- tarmacPaved airport surface
- gateHinged barrier in fence
concourse · jetway · taxiway · apron · hangar · air traffic control · security checkpoint · customs
Large commercial passenger plane
- jetForced fluid stream
- turbopropTurbine-powered propeller engine
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- wingLimb enabling flight
cockpit · cabin · tailplane · landing gear · engine · pressurization · narrow-body · wide-body
One that transports
- fleetVehicles under unified command
- hubCentral connection point
- low-cost carrierAirline minimizing fares via stripped amenities
- regional carrierAirline with limited routes
charter airline · budget airline · airline alliance · codeshare · merger · deregulation · scheduled service · frequent flyer program
One who steers aircraft
- captainOne who commands
- first officerAircraft's second pilot
- flight attendantAirplane cabin staff member
- cabin crewAircraft service personnel
flight engineer · purser · ground crew · dispatcher · flight instructor · cockpit crew · uniform · pilot license
airworthiness
Fit for flight
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- safety standardsRequired protective measures
- FAAU.S. flight safety agency
bilateral agreement · slots · noise abatement · emissions standards · accident investigation · black box · flight data recorder · inspection
flight
Aerial journey by aircraft
- passengerTraveler, not operator
- boarding passAirline entry document
- check-inRegistering one's presence
carry-on · baggage claim · departure lounge · jetlag · inflight · economy class · business class · first class · frequent flyer · airfare
terminal
At the endpoint
- runwayPaved path for planes
- control towerAviation guidance facility
- tarmacPaved airport surface
gate · concourse · jetway · taxiway · apron · hangar · air traffic control · security checkpoint · customs · immigration
airliner
Large commercial passenger plane
wing · cockpit · cabin · tailplane · landing gear · engine · pressurization · narrow-body · wide-body · regional jet
carrier
One that transports
- fleetVehicles under unified command
- hubCentral connection point
- low-cost carrierAirline minimizing fares via stripped amenities
regional carrier · charter airline · budget airline · airline alliance · codeshare · merger · deregulation · scheduled service · frequent flyer program · loyalty program
pilot
One who steers aircraft
- captainOne who commands
- first officerAircraft's second pilot
- flight attendantAirplane cabin staff member
cabin crew · flight engineer · purser · ground crew · dispatcher · flight instructor · cockpit crew · uniform · pilot license · seniority
- aviation rulesflight regulations, pilot licenses, air traffic control, safety standards, flight safety
- aviation regulationFAA, airworthiness, licensing authority, safety inspections, drone regulations
- transportationcar, bus, airplane, train, plane
- aviationaircraft, airports, flying, flight, airplane
civil aviationmilitary aviation
Armed aerial warfare branch
military aircraft · air force · naval aviation · warplanes · fighter jets
civil aviationmaritime shipping
Moving cargo by ship
ground transportation · rail transport · road transport · merchant marine · sea travel
civil, civic, civilian, civilized, civilization, uncivilized, uncivil, civility, aviation