Aeronautics is the science and practice of aerial locomotion, i.e. of flying by aircraft.
It is subdivided into:
- Aerostation — the flying of lighter than air aircraft
- Aviation — the flying of heavier than air aircraft
The term is often the subject of some confusion, as an aeronaut is the pilot of a lighter-than-air vehicle (i.e., someone involved in aerostation). As such, the two terms do not relate to exactly the same areas of human flight.
See also