Civil aviation
From ArticleWorld
Civil aviation encompasses jet aircraft, helicopters and all other forms of mechanized flight that are not owned or operated by the military. Civil aviation is one of the two major categories of flying, and it represents all non-Military aviation, including private and commercial aviation. The majority of countries worldwide are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This organization enables its members to collaborate on standards and regulations that are common throughout the world. One of the main focuses of the International Civil Aviation Organization is safety, but there are often conflicts between civil aviation and military aviation that have to share the same air space and this can sometimes result in fatal crashes.
There are two major categories of civil aviation:
- Scheduled air transport
- General aviation
The most discernible part of civil aviation for the majority of people is scheduled air transport. This is the type of civil aviation that most people use for business or pleasure flights. However, the vast majority of flights operate under general aviation, as this includes independently owned and operated aircraft.
Scheduled air transport
Scheduled air transport includes all passenger or cargo flights that operate on a published schedule. The majority of travelers are familiar with this type of civil aviation as it is the most widely used for business or leisure travel.
General aviation
General aviation includes all non-scheduled flights, and covers private and commercial flights. Typical examples of general aviation are private pilots who operate their Cessna from a local airfield, or a corporate jet that is used to transport important guests to the company headquarters.