View source for Aviation

{{Short description|Activities surrounding aircraft industry}}
{{hatnote group|{{other uses}}}}
{{Redirect|Air transport}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
[[File:Pan Am Boeing 747-121 N732PA Bidini.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 747]] in 1978 operated by [[Pan Am]].]]
{{Transport}}
 
'''Aviation''' includes the activities surrounding mechanical [[flight]] and the [[aircraft]] industry. ''Aircraft'' include [[Airplane|fixed-wing]] and [[Helicopter|rotary-wing]] types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as [[Aerostat|lighter-than-air aircraft]] such as [[Balloon (aeronautics)|hot air balloons]] and [[airship]]s.

Aviation began in the 18th century with the development of the [[hot air balloon]], an apparatus capable of atmospheric displacement through [[buoyancy]]. Clément Ader built the "Ader Éole" in France and made an uncontrolled, powered hop in 1890. This was the first powered aircraft, although it did not achieve controlled flight. Some of the most significant advancements in aviation technology came with the controlled gliding flying of [[Otto Lilienthal]] in 1896. A major leap followed with the construction of the ''[[Wright Flyer]]'', the first powered [[airplane]] by the [[Wright brothers]] in the early 1900s. 

Since that time, aviation has been technologically revolutionized by the introduction of the jet engine which enabled aviation to become a major form of transport throughout the world. In 2024, there were 9.5 billion passengers worldwide according to the [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-28 |title=Joint ACI World-ICAO Passenger Traffic Report, Trends, and Outlook {{!}} ACI World |url=https://aci.aero/2025/01/28/joint-aci-world-icao-passenger-traffic-report-trends-and-outlook/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2018, estimates suggest that 11% of the world's population traveled by air, with up to 4% taking international flights.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gössling |first1=Stefan |last2=Humpe |first2=Andreas |date=2020-11-01 |title=The global scale, distribution and growth of aviation: Implications for climate change |journal=Global Environmental Change |volume=65 |article-number=102194 |doi=10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102194 |pmid=36777089 |issn=0959-3780|pmc=9900393 |bibcode=2020GEC....6502194G }}</ref> 

==Etymology==
The word ''aviation'' was coined by the French writer and former naval officer Gabriel La Landelle in 1863.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.org/details/bub_gb_pA9-D4QETAoC|title=Aviation ou Navigation aerienne par G. de La Landelle|date=June 6, 1863|publisher=E. Dentu|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> He originally derived the term from the verb ''avier'' (an unsuccessful [[neologism]] for "to fly"), itself derived from the Latin word ''avis'' ("bird") and the suffix ''-ation''.{{sfn|Cassard|2008|p=77}}

== History ==
{{Main|History of aviation}}
{{For timeline|Timeline of aviation}}
===Early beginnings===
There are early legends of human flight such as the stories of [[Icarus]] in Greek myth, [[Jamshid]] and [[Shah]] [[Kay Kāvus]] in Persian myth,<ref>''The Sháhnáma of Firdausí''. Vol. II. (1906), pp. 103–104, verse 111. Translated by Arthur George Warner and Edmond Warner. London. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. Ltd</ref> and the flying automaton of [[Archytas]] of [[Taranto|Tarentum]] (428–347 BC).{{sfn|Berliner|1996|p=28}} Later, somewhat more credible claims{{according to whom|date=July 2025}} of short-distance human flights appear, such as the winged flights of [[Abbas ibn Firnas]] (810–887, recorded in the 17th century), [[Eilmer of Malmesbury]] (11th century, recorded in the 12th century) and the hot-air Passarola of [[Bartholomeu Lourenço de Gusmão]] (1685–1724).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cunha |first=Rudnei Dias Da |date=2023-03-07 |title=Bartolomeu Lourenço de Gusmão: Brazilian Aeronautics Pioneer |url=https://www.laahs.com/brazilian-pioneer/#:~:text=The%20Brazilian%20priest,%20Bartolomeu%20Louren%C3%A7o%20de%20Gusm%C3%A3o,%20is,capable%20of%20taking%20a%20man%20to%20the%20air |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=LAAHS |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Lighter than air===
[[File:Hindenburg at lakehurst.jpg|thumb|left|[[LZ 129 Hindenburg|LZ 129 ''Hindenburg'']] at [[Lakehurst Naval Air Station]], 1936.]]
The modern age of aviation began with the first untethered human lighter-than-air flight on November 21, 1783, of a [[hot air balloon]] designed by the [[Montgolfier brothers]].<ref name="Ballon Flight">{{Cite web|title=Balloon flight {{!}} aviation|url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/balloon-flight|access-date=June 6, 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628232219/https://www.britannica.com/technology/balloon-flight|url-status=live}}</ref> The usefulness of balloons was limited because they could only travel downwind. The first steerable [[Airship|dirigible]], balloon was flown by [[Jean-Pierre Blanchard]] in 1784. It was human-powered and, Blanchard completed a successful crossing of the English Channel in one in 1785.

[[Rigid airship]]s became the first aircraft to transport passengers and cargo over great distances. The best-known aircraft of this type were manufactured by the German [[Zeppelin]] company.

The most successful Zeppelin was the ''[[LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin|Graf Zeppelin]]''. It flew over one million miles, including an around-the-world flight in August 1929. However, the dominance of the Zeppelins over the airplanes of that period, which had a range of only a few hundred miles, was diminishing as airplane design advanced. The "Golden Age" of the airships ended on May 6, 1937.{{according to whom|date=July 2025}} That year the ''[[LZ 129 Hindenburg|Hindenburg]]'' caught fire, killing 36 people. The cause of the ''Hindenburg'' accident was initially blamed on the use of hydrogen instead of helium as the lift gas. An internal investigation by the manufacturer found that the coating used in the material covering the frame was highly flammable and allowed static electricity to build up in the airship.{{sfn|De Angelis|2001|pages=87–101}} Changes to the coating formulation reduced the risk of further ''Hindenburg'' type accidents. Although there have been periodic initiatives to revive their use, airships have seen only niche application since that time.<ref name="Civil Transport Aircraft">{{Citation|last1=Torenbeek|first1=Egbert|title=Civil Transport Aircraft|date=December 15, 2010|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/9780470686652.eae379|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering|pages=eae379|editor-last=Blockley|editor-first=Richard|place=Chichester, UK|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd|language=en|doi=10.1002/9780470686652.eae379|isbn=978-0-470-75440-5|access-date=June 6, 2021|last2=La Rocca|first2=Gianfranco|editor2-last=Shyy|editor2-first=Wei|url-access=subscription}}</ref> There had been previous airship accidents that were more fatal, for instance, a [[R38-class airship|British R38]] on {{date|23 August 1921}},<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200139.html |title=The Accident to H.M. Airship R. 38|magazine=[[Flight International|Flight]]|date= 2 March 1922| page= 139}}</ref> but the ''Hindenburg'' was the first to be captured on newsreel.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Hindenburg, Before and After Disaster|website=Britannica|date=August 25, 2023 |url=https://www.britannica.com/story/the-hindenburg-before-and-after-disaster}}</ref>

===Heavier than air===
{{stack begin|clear=true}}
[[File:Otto Lilienthal gliding experiment ppmsca.02546.jpg|thumb|Lilienthal in mid-flight, Berlin {{Circa|1895}}.]]
[[File:First flight2.jpg|thumb|[[Wright Flyer|First powered and controlled flight]] by the [[Wright brothers]], December 17, 1903.]]
[[File:Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, Private JP6817606.jpg|thumb|The [[Cessna 172]] is the most produced aircraft in history.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Swayne |title=The 20 Most Produced Aircraft Of All Time |url=https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2014/12/20-most-produced-aircraft/ |access-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414083543/https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2014/12/20-most-produced-aircraft/ |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
[[File:Helios cthomas.jpg|thumb|[[NASA]]'s [[Helios Prototype|Helios]] researches [[solar power]]ed flight.]]
{{stack end}}
In 1799, Sir [[George Cayley]] set forth the concept of the modern airplane as a fixed-wing flying machine with separate systems for lift, propulsion and control.<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Aviation History
 |url         = http://www.aviation-history.com/early/cayley.htm
 |access-date  = July 26, 2009
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090413155148/http://aviation-history.com/early/cayley.htm
 |archive-date = April 13, 2009
}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia
 |title       = Sir George Carley (British Inventor and Scientist)
 |url         = https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/100795/Sir-George-Cayley-6th-Baronet
 |encyclopedia   = Britannica
 |access-date  = July 26, 2009
 |quote       = English pioneer of aerial navigation and aeronautical engineering and designer of the first successful glider to carry a human being aloft.
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090311002545/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/100795/Sir-George-Cayley-6th-Baronet
 |archive-date = March 11, 2009
}}</ref>

[[Otto Lilienthal]] was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful flights with [[Glider (aircraft)|glider]]s,<ref>[http://www.dlr.de/dlr/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10280/385_read-16705/year-all/#/gallery/21944 ''DLR baut das erste Serien-Flugzeug der Welt nach''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126135109/https://www.dlr.de/dlr/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10280/385_read-16705/year-all/#/gallery/21944 |date=November 26, 2018 }} 2017. Retrieved: March 3, 2017.</ref> therefore making the idea of "[[heavier than air]]" a reality. Newspapers and magazines published photographs of Lilienthal gliding, favorably influencing public and scientific opinion about the possibility of flying machines becoming practical.
Lilienthal's work led him to develop the concept of the modern wing.<ref>{{cite web |author=Otto-Lilienthal-Museum |url=http://www.lilienthal-museum.de/olma/eotto.htm |title=Otto-Lilienthal-Museum Anklam |website=Lilienthal-museum.de |date= |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220021702/http://www.lilienthal-museum.de/olma/eotto.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dlr.de/content/en/dossiers/2019/lilienthal-glider-project.html |title=The Lilienthal glider project – DLR Portal |website=Dlr.de |date= |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=March 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307224806/https://www.dlr.de/content/en/dossiers/2019/lilienthal-glider-project.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His flight attempts in [[Berlin]] in 1891 are seen as the beginning of human flight<ref>{{cite web |author=Otto-Lilienthal-Museum |url=http://www.lilienthal-museum.de/olma/e34.htm |title=Otto-Lilienthal-Museum Anklam |website=Lilienthal-museum.de |date= |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703015730/http://lilienthal-museum.de/olma/e34.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Lilienthal Normalsegelapparat|Lilienthal ''Normalsegelapparat'']] is considered to be the first airplane in series production, making the ''Maschinenfabrik Otto Lilienthal'' in [[Berlin]] the first air plane production company in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aeroreport.de/en/good-to-know/like-a-bird |title=Like a bird &#124; MTU AEROREPORT |website=Aeroreport.de |date= |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226135425/https://aeroreport.de/en/good-to-know/like-a-bird |url-status=live }}</ref>
Lilienthal is often referred to as either the "father of aviation"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/airandspacepioneers/ottolilienthal/index.html |title=DPMA &#124; Otto Lilienthal |website=Dpma.de |date=December 2, 2021 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226135452/https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/airandspacepioneers/ottolilienthal/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cobaltrecruitment.co.uk/blog/2017/11/in-perspective-otto-lilienthal|title=In perspective: Otto Lilienthal|website=Cobaltrecruitment.co.uk|access-date=March 5, 2022|archive-date=February 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226160700/https://www.cobaltrecruitment.co.uk/blog/2017/11/in-perspective-otto-lilienthal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/prospero/2011/09/20/remembering-germanys-first-flying-man|title=Remembering Germany's first "flying man"|date=September 20, 2011|access-date=March 5, 2022|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302015744/https://www.economist.com/prospero/2011/09/20/remembering-germanys-first-flying-man|url-status=live}}</ref> or "father of flight".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scihi.org/otto-lilienthal-glider-king/ |title=Otto Lilienthal, the Glider King |publisher=SciHi BlogSciHi Blog |date=May 23, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226135401/http://scihi.org/otto-lilienthal-glider-king/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw dirigible developments, such as [[Henri Giffard]]'s included machine-powered propulsion [[Giffard dirigible]] in 1852, [[David Schwarz (aviation inventor)|David Schwarz']] rigid frame dirigible in 1896 and ([[Alberto Santos-Dumont]]'s improvements to speed and maneuverability in 1901.

There are [[Early flying machines#Adding power|many competing claims]] for the earliest powered, heavier-than-air flight. The first recorded powered flight was carried out by [[Clément Ader]] on October 9, 1890, in his bat-winged, fully self-propelled [[fixed-wing aircraft]], the [[Ader Éole]]. It was reportedly the first manned, powered, heavier-than-air flight of a significant distance of {{convert|50|m|ft|sp=us}}, but insignificant altitude from level ground.<ref name=b>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/5780/Clement-Ader|title=Clement Ader – French inventor|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308231925/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/5780/Clement-Ader|archive-date=March 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flyingmachines.org/ader.html|title=FLYING MACHINES – Clement Ader|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204055424/http://www.flyingmachines.org/ader.html|archive-date=February 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eads.com/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1890_1899/ader.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020082858/http://www.eads.com/1024/en/eads/history/airhist/1890_1899/ader.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2007|title=EADS N.V. – Eole/Clément Ader|date=October 20, 2007}}</ref> Seven years later, on October 14, 1897, Ader's [[Ader Avion III|Avion III]] was tested without success in front of two officials from the French War ministry. The report on the trials was not publicized until 1910, as they had been a military secret. In November 1906, Ader said that he made a successful flight on October 14, 1897 and achieved an uninterrupted flight of around {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Although widely believed at the time, these claims were later discredited.<ref>Gibbs-Smith, C. H., ''Aviation''. London, NMSO 2003, p. 75.</ref><ref>L'homme, l'air et l'espace, p. 96</ref>

The [[Wright brothers]] made the [[Wright Flyer|first successful]] powered, controlled and sustained airplane flight on December 17, 1903, a feat made possible by their invention of [[aircraft flight dynamics|three-axis]] control<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Last Piece of the Puzzle |url=https://www.wright-brothers.org/History_Wing/Wright_Story/Inventing_the_Airplane/Wagging_Its_Tail/Last_Piece_of_Puzzle.htm |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.wright-brothers.org}}</ref> and in-house development of an engine with a sufficient [[power-to-weight ratio]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1903 Wright Engine |url=https://www.wright-brothers.org/Information_Desk/Just_the_Facts/Engines_&_Props/1903_Engine.htm |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.wright-brothers.org}}</ref> A decade later, at the start of [[World War I]], heavier-than-air powered aircraft had become practical for reconnaissance, artillery spotting and attacks against ground positions.

Aircraft began to transport people and cargo as designs grew larger and more reliable. The Wright brothers took aloft the first passenger, Charles Furnas, one of their mechanics, on May 14, 1908.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/1908_The_Year_the_Airplane_Went_Public.html |title=1908: The Year the Airplane Went Public |author=Tom D. Crouch |work=[[Air & Space/Smithsonian]] |date=August 29, 2008 |access-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525040238/http://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/1908_The_Year_the_Airplane_Went_Public.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/thismonth/this_month_may08.html |title=This Month in Exploration: May |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=August 21, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406110825/http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/thismonth/this_month_may08.html |archive-date=April 6, 2012 }}</ref>

During the 1920s and 1930s great progress was made in the field of aviation, including the first [[transatlantic flight of Alcock and Brown]] in 1919, [[Charles Lindbergh]]'s solo transatlantic flight in 1927 and [[Charles Kingsford Smith]]'s transpacific flight the following year. One of the most successful designs of this period was the [[Douglas DC-3]], which became the first [[airliner]] to be profitable carrying passengers exclusively, starting the modern era of passenger airline service. By the beginning of World War II, many towns and cities had built airports, and there were numerous qualified pilots available. During World War II one of the first jet engines was developed by Hans von Ohain and accomplished the world's first jet-powered flight in 1939.<ref>{{Cite book |last=El-Sayed |first=Ahmed F. |title=Aircraft propulsion and gas turbine engines |date=2017 |publisher=CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=978-1-4665-9517-0 |edition=2nd |location=Boca Raton London New York}}</ref> The war brought many innovations to aviation, including the first [[turbojet|jet]] aircraft and the first liquid-fueled [[rocket]]s.

After World War II, especially in [[Canada–United States relations|North America]], there was a boom in [[general aviation]], both private and commercial, as thousands of pilots were released from military service and many inexpensive war-surplus transport and training aircraft became available. Manufacturers such as [[Cessna]], [[Piper Aircraft|Piper]], and [[Beechcraft]] expanded production to provide light aircraft for the new middle-class market.

By the 1950s, the development of civil jets grew, beginning with the [[de Havilland Comet]], though the first widely used passenger jet was the [[Boeing 707]], because it was much more economical than other aircraft at that time. At the same time, [[gas turbine|turboprop]] propulsion started to appear for smaller commuter planes, making it possible to serve small-volume routes in a much wider range of weather conditions.

Since the 1960s [[composite material]] airframes and quieter, more efficient engines have become available, and [[Concorde]] provided [[supersonic transport|supersonic passenger service]] for more than two decades. However, the most important lasting innovations have taken place in instrumentation and control. The arrival of [[transistor|solid-state]] electronics, the [[Global Positioning System]], [[communications satellite|satellite communications]], and increasingly small and powerful computers and [[light-emitting diode|LED]] displays, have dramatically changed the cockpits of [[airliner]]s and, increasingly, of smaller aircraft as well. Pilots can navigate much more accurately and view terrain, obstructions, and other nearby aircraft on a map or through [[synthetic vision]], even at night or in low visibility.

On June 21, 2004, [[SpaceShipOne]] became the first privately funded aircraft to make a [[spaceflight]], opening the possibility of an aviation market capable of leaving the Earth's atmosphere. Meanwhile, the need to [[Climate change mitigation|decarbonize]] the aviation industry to face the [[climate crisis]] has increased research into aircraft powered by alternative fuels, such as [[ethanol]], [[electricity]], [[Hydrogen-powered aircraft|hydrogen]], and [[solar energy]], with flying prototypes becoming more common.

==Operations of aircraft==
[[File:Boeing 777-200 (United AL) LHR (5383777850).jpg|thumb|A [[United Airlines]] [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200]] taxiing on the tarmac of [[Heathrow Airport]] in January 2011. The Boeing 777 is a popular choice for airlines that operate a [[wide-body aircraft]].]]

===Civil aviation===
{{Main|Civil aviation}} 
{{see|Commercial aviation|Private aviation}}
Civil aviation includes all non-military flying, both [[general aviation]] and [[scheduled air transport]].

====Air transport====
{{Main|Airline}}
[[File:N819NW Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-323 takeoff from Schiphol (AMS - EHAM), The Netherlands pic1.JPG|thumb|A [[Delta Air Lines]] [[Airbus A330-323]] taking off at [[Amsterdam Schiphol Airport]] in July 2017]]
There are seven major manufacturers of civil transport aircraft:
* [[Airbus]], based in Europe
* [[Antonov]], based in Ukraine
* [[Boeing]], based in the United States
* [[Bombardier Aerospace|Bombardier]], based in Canada
* [[Comac]], based in China
* [[Embraer]], based in Brazil
* [[United Aircraft Corporation]], based in Russia, with its subsidiaries [[Ilyushin]], [[Tupolev]], [[Yakovlev]] and [[Sukhoi]]

Boeing, Airbus, Ilyushin and Tupolev concentrate on wide-body and narrow-body jet [[airliner]]s, while Bombardier, Embraer and Sukhoi concentrate on [[regional airliner]]s. Large networks of specialized parts suppliers from around the world support these manufacturers, who sometimes provide only the initial design and final assembly in their own plants. The Chinese [[ACAC consortium]] has also recently{{when|date=July 2025}} entered the civil transport market with its [[Comac ARJ21]] regional jet.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1670256,00.html |magazine=Time |title=Eyes on the Skies |first=Kathleen |last=Kingsbury |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=April 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031070258/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1670256,00.html |archive-date=October 31, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 29, 2015 |title=China's COMAC delivers first ARJ21 jet plane to domestic airline |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/china-comac-idUSL3N13O02620151129 |access-date=August 12, 2022 |archive-date=December 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203121845/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/29/china-comac-idUSL3N13O02620151129 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Until the 1970s, most major airlines were [[flag carrier]]s, sponsored by their governments and heavily protected from competition. Since then, [[open skies]] agreements have resulted in increased competition and choice for consumers, coupled with falling prices for airlines. The combination of high fuel prices, low fares, high salaries, as well as crises such as the [[September 11 attacks]] and the [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS pandemic]] have driven many older airlines to government-bailouts, bankruptcy or mergers. At the same time, [[low-cost carrier]]s such as [[Ryanair]], [[Southwest Airlines|Southwest]] and [[WestJet]] have flourished.

====General aviation====
{{Main|General aviation}}
[[File:Piper J.3C-65 Cub ‘G-BVAF’ (32714647720).jpg|thumb|1940 [[Piper Cub]].]]
''General aviation'' includes all non-scheduled civil flying, both [[Private aviation|private]] and [[Commercial aviation|commercial]]. General aviation may include business flights, [[air charter]], private aviation, [[flight training]], [[Hot air balloon|ballooning]], [[paragliding]], [[parachuting]], [[Glider (sailplane)|gliding]], [[hang gliding]], [[aerial photography]], [[powered hang glider|foot-launched powered hang gliders]], air ambulance, crop dusting, charter flights, [[traffic reporting]], police air patrols and forest fire fighting.

Each country regulates aviation differently, but general aviation usually falls under different regulations depending on whether it is private or commercial and on the type of equipment involved.

Many small aircraft manufacturers serve the general aviation market, with a focus on private aviation and flight training.

The most important recent developments{{which|date=July 2025}}{{when|date=July 2025}} for small aircraft, which form the bulk of the GA fleet, have been the introduction of advanced [[avionics]] (including [[Global Positioning System|GPS]]) that were formerly found only in large [[airliner]]s, and the introduction of [[composite material]]s to make small aircraft lighter and faster. [[Ultralight aviation|Ultralight]] and [[homebuilt aircraft]] have also become increasingly popular for recreational use, since in most countries that allow private aviation, they are much less expensive and less heavily regulated than certified aircraft.

===Military aviation===
{{Main|Military aviation|Aerial warfare}}
[[File:Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.jpg|thumb|The [[Lockheed SR-71]] remains unsurpassed in many areas of performance.<ref>[https://inhomelandsecurity.com/blackbird-us-intelligence-superior/#:~:text=The%20Unique%20Aspects%20of%20the%20SR%2D71&text=The%20fuselage%20panels%20were%20designed,exterior%20while%20on%20the%20ground.&text=It%20holds%20the%20fastest%20airspeed,breathing%E2%80%9D%20man%2Dpowered%20flight.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029000317/https://inhomelandsecurity.com/blackbird-us-intelligence-superior/#:~:text=The%20Unique%20Aspects%20of%20the%20SR%2D71&text=The%20fuselage%20panels%20were%20designed,exterior%20while%20on%20the%20ground.&text=It%20holds%20the%20fastest%20airspeed,breathing%E2%80%9D%20man%2Dpowered%20flight.|date=October 29, 2020}}, "In Homeland Security" on the strategic advantage of the SR-71 blackbird. Retrieved October 25, 2020.</ref>{{which|date=August 2025}}]]
Simple [[balloon (aeronautics)|balloons]] were used as surveillance aircraft as early as the 18th century. Over the years, [[military aircraft]] have been built to meet ever increasing capability requirements. Manufacturers of military aircraft compete for contracts to supply their government's arsenal. Aircraft are selected based on factors like cost, performance and the speed of production.

====Types of military aviation====
* [[Fighter aircraft]]'s primary function is to destroy other aircraft.
** Examples: the [[F-35]], [[Eurofighter Typhoon]], [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15]], [[MiG-29]], [[Su-27]], and the [[F-22]].
* [[Ground attack|Ground attack aircraft]] are used against [[Tactical bombing|tactical]] Earth-bound targets. 
** Examples: the [[Panavia Tornado]], [[A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10]], [[Ilyushin Il-2|Il-2]], [[J-22 Orao]], [[AH-64]] and the [[Sukhoi Su-25|Su-25]].
* [[Bomber]]s are generally used against more [[Strategic bombing|strategic]] targets, such as factories and oil fields. 
** Examples: the [[B-2]], [[Tu-95]], [[Dassault Mirage IV|Mirage IV]], and the [[B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]].
* [[Military transport aircraft|Transport aircraft]] are used to transport hardware and personnel. 
** Examples: the [[C-17 Globemaster III]], [[C-130 Hercules]] and the [[Mil Mi-26]].
* [[Surveillance aircraft|Surveillance]] and [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]] aircraft obtain information about enemy forces. 
** Examples: the [[RC-135]], [[E-8 Joint STARS|E-8]], [[Lockheed U-2|U-2]], [[Bell OH-58 Kiowa|OH-58]] and the [[MiG-25R]].
* [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s (UAVs) are used primarily as reconnaissance fixed-wing aircraft, though many also carry payloads. 
** Examples: the [[MQ-9]], [[RQ-4]], and [[MQ-1C|MQ-1C Gray Eagle]]). Cargo aircraft are in development.{{As of?|date=July 2025}}
* [[Missile]]s deliver warheads, normally explosives.

=== Air safety ===
{{main|Aviation safety}}
Aviation safety means the state of an aviation system or organization in which risks associated with aviation activities, related to, or in direct support of the operation of aircraft, are reduced and controlled to an acceptable level. It encompasses the theory, practice, investigation, and categorization of flight failures, and the prevention of such failures through regulation, education, and training. It can also be applied in the context of campaigns that inform the public as to the safety of air travel.

=== Aviation MRO ===
A maintenance, repair, and overhaul organization (MRO) is a firm that ensures airworthiness or air transport. According to a 2024 article, "maintenance (M) involves inspecting, cleaning, oiling, and changing aircraft parts after a certain number of flight hours. Repair (R) is restoring the original function of parts and components. Overhaul (O) refers to extensive maintenance, the complete refurbishment of the aircraft, and upgrades in avionics, which can take several weeks to complete."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Wirths |first1=Oliver |last2=Tóth |first2=Zsófia |last3=Diaz Ruiz |first3=Carlos A. |date=2024 |title=Adversarial Service Networks: A Study of Service Firms' Response to Manufacturer-led Servitization in Aviation |journal=Industrial Marketing Management |volume=119 |page=166 |doi=10.1016/j.indmarman.2024.04.004 |issn=0019-8501|doi-access=free }}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}}</ref> Airlines are legally obligated to certify airworthiness, meaning that a civil aviation authority must approve an aircraft suitable for safe flight operations.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kinnison |first1=Harry A. |url=https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9780071805025 |title=Aviation Maintenance Management |last2=Siddiqui |first2=Tariq "Terry" |date=2013 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=978-0-07-180502-5 |edition=2nd |language=en}}</ref> MRO firms are responsible for this process, thoroughly checking and documenting all components' repairs while tracking mechanical, propulsion, and electronic parts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside MRO {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/Inside-MRO |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=aviationweek.com}}</ref> Aviation regulators oversee maintenance practices in the country of aircraft registration, manufacture, or current location. All aircraft maintenance activities must adhere to international regulations that mandate standards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-17 |title=Foreign Part-145 Organisations {{!}} EASA |url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/aircraft-products/continuing-airworthiness-organisations/foreign-part-145-organisations |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=www.easa.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Aviation accidents and incidents==
{{main|Aviation accidents and incidents}}
[[File:2003 Thunderbirds Mountain Home airshow crash ejection.jpg|thumb|upright|left|A [[United States Air Force Thunderbirds|USAF Thunderbird]] pilot [[Ejection seat|ejecting]] from his [[F-16]] aircraft at an [[air show]] in 2003.]]
An ''aviation accident'' is defined by the [[Convention on International Civil Aviation]] Annex 13 as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, in which a person is fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure or the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Investigation Process Research Resource Site|title=International Investigation Standards|url=http://www.iprr.org/manuals/Annex13.html|access-date=May 7, 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427102210/http://www.iprr.org/manuals/Annex13.html|archive-date=April 27, 2012}}</ref> An accident in which the damage to the aircraft is such that it must be written off, or in which the plane is destroyed, is called a ''hull loss accident''.<ref name="AirSafe.com" />

The first fatal aviation accident occurred in a [[Wright Model A]] aircraft at [[Fort Myer]] (now part of [[Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall]]) in Virginia, on September 17, 1908, resulting in injury to the pilot, [[Orville Wright]], and death of the passenger, Signal Corps Lieutenant [[Thomas Selfridge]]. The worst aviation accident in history was the [[Tenerife airport disaster]] on March 27, 1977, when 583 people died when two Boeing 747 jumbo jets, operated by Pan Am and KLM collided on a runway in Los Rodeos airport, now known as Tenerife North.

An ''aviation incident'' is defined as an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of operations.<ref name="AirSafe.com">{{cite web |website=AirSafe.com |title=Definitions of Key Terms Used by AirSafe.com |url=http://www.airsafe.com/events/define.htm |access-date=May 7, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420172922/http://www.airsafe.com/events/define.htm |archive-date=April 20, 2012 }}</ref>

==Air traffic control==
{{Main|Air traffic control}}
[[File:Towers Schiphol small.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Air traffic control tower]]s at [[Amsterdam Airport]].]]
Air traffic control (ATC) involves communication with aircraft to help maintain separation&nbsp;– that is, they ensure that aircraft are sufficiently far enough apart horizontally or vertically for no risk of collision. Controllers may co-ordinate position reports provided by pilots, or in high traffic areas they may use [[radar]] to see aircraft positions.

Becoming an [[air traffic controller]] in the United States typically requires an associate or bachelor's degree from the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative. The FAA also requires extensive training, along with medical examinations and background checks. Some controllers are required to work weekend, night, and holiday shifts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/air-traffic-controllers.htm#tab-1 |access-date=2023-12-04 |work=U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics}}</ref>

There are generally four different types of ATC:
* Center controllers, who control aircraft en route between airports.
* Control towers of an airport. (including tower, ground control, clearance delivery, and other services), which control aircraft within a small distance (typically {{convert|10|-|15|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}} horizontal, and {{convert|1,000|m|ft|abbr=on|sp=us}} vertical).
* Oceanic controllers, who control aircraft over [[international waters]] between continents, generally without radar service.
* Terminal controllers, who control aircraft in a wider area (typically {{convert|50|-|80|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}}) around busy airports.

ATC is especially important for aircraft flying under [[instrument flight rules]] (IFR) when they may be in weather conditions that do not allow the pilots to see other aircraft. However, in very high-traffic areas, especially near major airports, aircraft flying under [[visual flight rules]] (VFR) are also required to follow instructions from ATC.

In addition to separation from other aircraft, ATC may provide weather advisories, terrain separation, navigation assistance, and other services to pilots, depending on their workload.

ATC does not control all flights. The majority of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flights in the United States and Canada are not required to contact ATC unless they are passing through a busy terminal area or using a major airport, and in many areas, such as northern Canada and low altitude in northern Scotland, air traffic control services are not available, even for IFR flights at lower altitudes.

==Environmental impact==
{{Main|Environmental impact of aviation}}
[[File:Contrails.jpg|thumb|Water vapor [[Condensation trails|contrails]] left by high-altitude jet [[airliner]]s. These may contribute to [[cirrus cloud]] formation.]]
Like all activities involving [[combustion]], operating powered aircraft, from airliners to hot air balloons, releases [[soot]] and other pollutants into the atmosphere. [[Greenhouse gas]]es such as [[carbon dioxide]] (CO<sub>2</sub>) are also produced. In addition, there are environmental impacts specific to aviation: for instance: 
* Aircraft operating at high altitudes near the [[tropopause]], mainly large [[jet airliner]]s, emit aerosols and leave [[contrail]]s, both of which can increase [[cirrus cloud]] formation&nbsp;– cloud cover may have increased by up to 0.2% since the birth of aviation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc/aviation/032.htm|title=Aviation and the Global Atmosphere|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629113916/http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc/aviation/032.htm|archive-date=June 29, 2007}}</ref> Clouds can have both a cooling and warming effect. They reflect some of the Sun's rays back into space but also block some of the heat radiated by Earth's surface. On average, both thin natural cirrus clouds and contrails have a net warming effect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2207886-it-turns-out-planes-are-even-worse-for-the-climate-than-we-thought/|title=It turns out planes are even worse for the climate than we thought|last=Le Page|first=Michael|website=www.newscientist.com|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705102129/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2207886-it-turns-out-planes-are-even-worse-for-the-climate-than-we-thought/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Aircraft operating at high altitudes near the tropopause can also release chemicals that interact with greenhouse gases at those altitudes, particularly [[nitrogen oxide|nitrogen compounds]], which interact with ozone, increasing ozone concentrations.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Lin | first = X. | author2 = Trainer, M. |author3-link=Liu Shaw-chen | author3 = Liu, S.C. | name-list-style = amp | title = On the nonlinearity of the tropospheric ozone production | journal = Journal of Geophysical Research | volume = 93 | issue = D12 | pages = 15879–88 | date = 1988 | doi = 10.1029/JD093iD12p15879 | bibcode = 1988JGR....9315879L | url = https://zenodo.org/record/1231446 | access-date = September 12, 2019 | archive-date = November 6, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201106100603/https://zenodo.org/record/1231446 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last = Grewe | first = V. |author2=D. Brunner |author3=M. Dameris |author4=J. L. Grenfell |author5=R. Hein |author6=D. Shindell |author7=J. Staehelin | title = Origin and variability of upper tropospheric nitrogen oxides and ozone at northern mid-latitudes | journal = Atmospheric Environment | volume = 35 | issue = 20 | pages = 3421–33 |date=July 2001 | doi = 10.1016/S1352-2310(01)00134-0 |bibcode = 2001AtmEn..35.3421G | hdl = 2060/20000060827 | hdl-access = free }}</ref>
* Most light piston aircraft burn [[aviation gasoline]] (avgas), which contains [[tetraethyllead]] (TEL). Some lower-compression piston engines can operate on unleaded motor [[gasoline]] (mogas), and turbine engines and diesel engines&nbsp;– neither of which require lead&nbsp;– are appearing on some newer [[light aircraft]].

Another environmental impact of aviation is [[noise pollution]], mainly caused by aircraft taking off and landing. [[Sonic boom]]s were a problem with supersonic aircraft such as the [[Concorde]].

==Innovation and development==
{{see|Fuel economy in aircraft|Urban air mobility}}
[[File:Patent landscape in Air transportation in the four technology trends.png|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Technology trends in Air transportation: patent landscape in air transport.]]
Air transportation is a mode of travel and commerce, involving the movement of people, goods, and animals through the atmosphere using aircraft such as airplanes and helicopters. It is a major mode for the overall transportation system, because of its speed and the ability to cover long distances quickly, connecting remote regions and major economic hubs. It plays a significant role in global trade and passenger mobility, influencing economic development and international relations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Transport |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/transport/brief/airtransport |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=World Bank |language=en}}</ref> However, its share of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions is significant, accounting for 2% of global CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in 2023, having grown faster between 2000 and 2019 than rail, road or shipping.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aviation |url=https://www.iea.org/energy-system/transport/aviation |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}</ref> Even under the High Ambition scenario, where total emissions are reduced significantly, aviation emissions will still be a major concern.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=ITF Transport Outlook 2023 |url=https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/repositories/itf-transport-outlook-2023-summary-en.pdf |website=OECD}}</ref>

The [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) has highlighted the need for ambitious policies in order to achieve significant reductions in aviation emissions, projecting that CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from aviation could be lowered by up to 50% by 2050 with the right measures in place.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Commitment to Fly Net Zero by 2050 |url=https://www.iata.org/en/programs/sustainability//flynetzero |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=www.iata.org |language=en}}</ref> The [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO) also emphasizes the potential of accelerating the transition to [[Aviation biofuel|sustainable aviation fuels]] (SAFs) and implementing efficiency technologies for both commercial and [[cargo aircraft]] to achieve significant emission reductions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU and ICAO strengthen commitment to global aviation safety, security, and sustainability - European Commission |url=https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/eu-and-icao-strengthen-commitment-global-aviation-safety-security-and-sustainability-2024-06-27_en |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=transport.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> These commitments reflect a concerted effort by global organizations to address the [[Environmental impact of aviation|climate impact of the aviation sector]].

Two significant megatrends are observed in terms of air transport [[innovation]], [[sustainability]] and digitalization. A report published by [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]] in 2025 showed a steady increase of [[Patent|patents]] publication in air transportation, the majority of which being related to [[communication]] and [[security]], followed by sustainable [[propulsion]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |title=WIPO Technology Trends: Future of Transportation - 4 Exploring transport modalities |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/wipo-technology-trends-future-of-transportation/en/4-exploring-transport-modalities.html#h2-sea-transportation |journal=WIPO Technology Trends |language=en}}</ref>

Sustainable Propulsion technologies are being developed to reduce emissions and improve environmental sustainability. Efficient aircraft turbines are used to improve [[Fuel economy in aircraft|fuel efficiency]], reduce emissions and lower noise levels. [[Aviation biofuel]]s aim for a reduction in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions compared to traditional jet fuel. [[Electric battery|Battery-based electric]] and/or [[Hybrid electric aircraft|hybrid aircraft]] are being developed for short-haul and regional flights. [[Hydrogen-powered aircraft]] are intended for [[Flight length#long haul|long-haul flights]] and heavy-duty applications.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |title=WIPO Technology Trends Technical Annex: The Future of Transportation in the Air - Introduction to air transportation |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/wipo-technology-trends-technical-annex-the-future-of-transportation-in-the-air/en/introduction-to-air-transportation.html |journal=WIPO Technology Trends |language=en}}</ref>

Automation and Circularity technologies are promoting efficient material use, smart production and [[robotics]], and enhanced recycling practices.<ref name=":3" />

Communication and Security technologies are revolutionizing{{Peacock inline|date=July 2025}} air transportation by improving operational efficiency, safety and customer experience. They include navigation technologies such as advanced [[air traffic management]] (ATM) systems, device-to-device technology, [[cloud computing]], low-latency internet, and cybersecurity.<ref name=":3" /> Analysis by [[McKinsey & Company]] has stated that the rise in digital technologies has made aviation systems more vulnerable to cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Cybersecurity in a Digital Era |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/risk/our%20insights/cybersecurity%20in%20a%20digital%20era/cybersecurity%20in%20a%20digital%20era.pdf |website=McKinsey.com}}</ref>

Advanced [[User interface|Human– Machine Interfaces]], such as [[extended reality]] technologies, [[speech recognition]] technology, [[Facial recognition system|facial recognition technology]], touch displays and [[Wired glove|data gloves]], and [[Head-up display|head-up displays]], are making interactions more intuitive, secure, and responsive, thereby improving operational efficiency and user experience.<ref name=":3" />

The air transportation sector is undergoing a surge in [[Patent application|patenting]] activity, with annual Air transport-related patent families increasing from under 1,100 in 2000 to over 12,800 in 2023 – a growth of 11%. [[China]], the [[South Korea]], and [[Japan]] stand out for their high patent volumes and significant growth rates, although they exhibit a relatively low Relative Specialization Index, reflecting a broad approach to innovation at the country-level across various sectors. In contrast, [[France]], the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] demonstrate a high degree of specialization in Air transportation technologies reflecting a concentrated focus on advancing specific innovations in aviation.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |date=2025 |title=WIPO Technology Trends: Future of Transportation - 4 Exploring transport modalities |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/wipo-technology-trends-future-of-transportation/en/4-exploring-transport-modalities.html#h2-air-transportation |journal=WIPO Technology Trends |language=en}}</ref>

Leading [[Airline|aviation companies]] such as [[RTX Corporation|RTX]], [[General Electric]], [[Safran]], [[Boeing]], [[Rolls-Royce Holdings]], and [[Honeywell|Honeywell International]] dominate the patent filings. The [[Aero Engine Corporation of China]] leads in recent growth with a compound annual growth rate of 81.1%. Generally, Chinese patent owners exhibit strong recent growth in air transport patent, in contrast to the other top patentees.{{Clarify timeframe|date=July 2025}} [[Mitsubishi Electric]] in Japan is as the only non-Chinese entity among the fastest-growing patent owners, highlighting its strategic emphasis on Air transportation research and innovation.{{peacock inline|date=July 2025}} The diverse landscape underscores the dynamic interplay of high-volume patenting and strategic specialization across different regions, driven by both established aviation multinationals and emerging players.<ref name=":2" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{wikivoyage|Flying}}
* {{annotated link|Aeronautics}}
* {{annotated link|Environmental impact of aviation}}
* {{annotated link|Index of aviation articles}}
* {{annotated link|Timeline of aviation}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin |30em}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Efr2Ll1OdqMC&pg=PA128|title=Aviation: Reaching for the Sky|first=Don|last=Berliner|year=1996|publisher=The Oliver Press, Inc|isbn=1-881508-33-1}}
* {{cite book|language=fr|first=Jean-Christophe|last=Cassard|publisher=Skol Vreizh|title=Dictionnaire d'histoire de Bretagne|date=2008|location=Morlaix|isbn=978-2-915623-45-1}}
* {{cite book|last=De Angelis|first=Gina|title=The Hindenburg|date=2001|publisher=Chelsea House Publishers|location=Philadelphia|isbn=0-7910-5272-9|url=https://archive.org/details/hindenburggreatd00gina}}
* {{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2024.04.004|author(s)=Wirths, Oliver; Tóth,Zsófia; Diaz Ruiz, Carlos}}
* {{Free-content attribution
| title = WIPO Technology Trends: Future of Transportation
| publisher = WIPO
| documentURL = https://www.wipo.int/en/web/technology-trends/future-of-transportation
| license = CC-BY-4.0
}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|wikt=aviation|b=no}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Flying}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Aviation}}
* {{Wikiversity inline|Aviation|at-link=School:Aviation|at=The School of Aviation}}
* {{Wiktionary-inline|aviation}}
* [[wikt:Appendix:Aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terms|Aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terms]]

{{Aviation lists}}

[[Category:Aviation| ]]