Pilot Vs. Aviator US Military?

Question

This is probably really stupid but I was look at navy career options and I saw both Aviator and Pilot. What is the difference?

Answer 1

Aviator is a generic term that applies to all aircrew positions (Pilot, Tacco, Nav Com, Radar Operator, Sensor Operator etc etc) while the term Pilot is job specific. Aviator is split into a couple of categories, There is Pilot and NFO (Naval Flight Officer) for non Pilot Officers and then of course the Enlisted Aircrew, but they are all technically Naval Aviators. Or to be more concise: All Pilots are Aviators, but not all Aviators are Pilots. If you ask somebody what they do and they say Naval Aviator chances are they ride in the back of the bus doing the mission, Pilots tend to have HUGE egos and like to brag about driving the bus so they will generally let you know that they are Pilots.



Edit: Maybe because there are 2 different sets of wings for Aviation Line Officers: Pilots and NFO's along with different designators. There are also different wings for Aviation Staff Officers like Aviation Medicine. But when it comes down to it they are all a bunch of Naval Aviators.

Answer 2

Aviator is a pilot of an aircraft, as opposed to pilot of a boat, etc.



The navy has a specific designator for different individuals in the aircraft:

1310 - Aviator

1320 - Naval Flight Officer

Answer 3

No idea why it says that in something you are reading now, but in the "old" days, a Naval Aviator was a commissioned officer pilot, and a Naval Aviation Pilot was an enlisted pilot - back when both the Marines and Navy had front-seater NCOs.



I remember in the late 70's seeing a news article in the base paper about the last NAP on his last flight before retiring. He was some Chief Petty Officer who flew P2s or P3s. He got is wings just before Pearl Harbor if I remember correctly. That said, the Navy has gone back to a test program putting Warrants and CPOs in the front seat - don't know where that has gone.....

Answer 4

Aviator covers any and all crewmemebers who fly with the aircraft. Ranging from a crewchief to a radio operator. While a Pilot is more specific as to what you are as a Aviator.



Im an Aviatior but noot a Pilot in the Army. a Blackhawk Crewchief

Answer 5

Air force is pilots and navy is aviators but I actually think navy helicopter pilots are called pilots I know jets are aviators

Answer 6

Being a fixed wing pilot will be the more demanding, and have the higher washout rate. I'm a retired Marine, so I can't give you the current rates. No matter which branch you join, the technical training will be pretty much the same. Flying a A. F. C-130 isn't much different from flying a USMC one. When your starting to apply for col.: Talk to officer selection officers for all branches. They will test you to see if you can pass the written tests, and see if you have all the other qualifications. And they can tell you the courses that will help you in your quest to be a pilot. All the mil. branches have both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Talk with all of them, and see which will offer you the best package. And one thing to remember: If it isn't in writing, it's not going to happen.s

Answer 7

i always thought the air force had pilots and the navy had aviators some navy planes have aircrew members that do not actually operate the plane

Answer 8

Pilots land on concrete--Aviators land on ships!