An aircraft
pilot or
aviator is a person who actively and directly operates the directional flight controls of an
aircraft while it is in flight. While other members of a flight crew such as
flight engineer,
navigator, or any other person involved in the direct flight operations of an aircraft (whether it be a fixed wing airplane, rotary-wing, powered, or unpowered), are also considered "aviators", they are not pilots and do not command a flight or aircraft. Aircrew who are not involved in operating the aircraft's flight systems (such as cabin attendants and mechanics) as well as ground crew are not generally classified as aviators.