簡譯aviator 是指駕駛飛機進行表演或以之為業的人，最初使用是1887年法語aviation
The term is often applied to pilots, but is often extended to include air navigators, bombardiers, Weapon Systems Officers, and electronic warfare Officers. This should not be confused with the term naval aviator, which refers crew members in the United States Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.
aviator常用來指 pilot， 但也經常指飛行導航員，轟炸機投彈手，武器系統主管和電子戰軍官。
There are also such minor aviation characters as wing-walkers who take part in aerobatic display sequences.
The term aviator (as opposed to "pilot" or other terms) was used more in the early days of aviation, before anyone had ever seen an airplane fly, and it had connotations of bravery and adventure. For example, the editors at the Dayton Herald, in an article of December 18, 1903 described the Wright Brothers' first airplane thus: "The weight, including the body of the aviator, is slightly over 700 pounds".
aviator這個詞在航空史早期用得較多，當時很少人看過飛機飛行。
To ensure the safety of people in the air as well as on the ground, it soon became a requirement for an aircraft to be under the operational control of a properly trained, certified and current pilot at all times, who is responsible for the safe and legal completion of the flight. The first certificate was delivered by the Aero Club de France to Louis Blériot in 1908, followed by Glenn Curtiss, Leon Delagrange, and Robert Esnault-Pelterie. The absolute authority given to the Pilot in Command is derived from that of a ship’s captain.[citation needed]
Beverly Lynn Burns, first woman in the world to captain the Boeing 747 airliner
為確保機上和地面人員的安全，在飛行的各個環節都要由訓練有素和具有航空資質的pilot控制。第壹個航空資質證書是由 Aero Club de France在1908年頒發給Louis Blériot。
In recognition of the aviators' qualifications and responsibilities, most militaries and many airlines around the world award aviator badges to their pilots as well as other air crews.
鑒於aviator的資質和責任關系重大，大多數軍用和民用航空管理處都會為其pilots和其他的職員頒發aviator獎章。
As of 2006, just over 6% of certified civilian pilots (both private and commercial) in the U.S. were women.[1]
2006年，美國pilots中僅有6%是女飛行員。
由上可看出： avator較pilot更有傳統，更有專業和權威性