aviation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

aviation
    n 1: the aggregation of a country's military aircraft [syn:
         {aviation}, {air power}]
    2: the operation of aircraft to provide transportation
    3: the art of operating aircraft [syn: {aviation}, {airmanship}]
    4: travel via aircraft; "air travel involves too much waiting in
       airports"; "if you've time to spare go by air" [syn: {air
       travel}, {aviation}, {air}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Aviation \A`vi*a"tion\, n.
   The art or science of flying.
   [1913 Webster]