What is a Male Pilot Called? A Look at the Evolution of Pilot Terminology

As an aviation geek, I’ve always been fascinated by pilot lingo and the unique culture of the air. In this post, let’s take a closer look at how pilot terminology has evolved over time, common roles and titles, the world of military callsigns, and key phrases pilots use to communicate. I’ll also share my perspective on changes happening around inclusion and diversity in the piloting profession. Whether you’re a flying enthusiast or just curious, hopefully you’ll find this a helpful explainer on the language of pilots!

The Early Days of Aviation: Aviators, Aviatrixes and Airman

In the pioneer days, what we now simply call a “pilot” had some more colorful terms attached. Male pilots were frequently called “aviators”, especially in the media coverage surrounding early daredevils of the air. For example, headlines would trumpet the latest feats of famous aviators like Charles Lindbergh or Amelia Earhart.

Yes, Amelia Earhart! Since she was a woman, she was termed an “aviatrix”, the feminine counterpart to “aviator.” Can you imagine if we still used terms like “aviator” and “aviatrix” today? Thankfully, over the past century aviation has shifted towards using more gender-neutral occupational labels.

Another old school term you’ll run across in the early 1900s is “airman.” This originally referred to members of the aircrew on large aircraft. Airman was affiliated with military flight crews before expanding as a general term for a male pilot or flight crew member.

In the UK, the Royal Air Force continued using the “airman” label in an occupational sense through the 1970s when they finally transitioned to “aircrew” for both men and women. Nowadays, the term airman is still sometimes used informally or in ceremonials, but no longer serves as an official job title.

Common Pilot Roles and Titles Now Used

As aviation professionalized in the mid-20th century, more standardized terminology emerged. The most ubiquitous label for an aircraft operator today is simply “pilot”, used for both men and women. Airline pilots will also have specific role descriptors related to their duties and seniority. Here’s a quick look at some common pilot titles:

Captain – The pilot who has final authority and responsibility during flight operations. The captain sits in the left seat on airliners and commands the aircraft. They directly manage all other crew members.

First Officer – The second in command after the captain. The first officer sits in the right seat and assists with duties like monitoring instruments and communicating with air traffic control. They take full control when the captain is unavailable.

Co-Pilot – In small private or corporate aircraft, the second pilot is usually referred to as the co-pilot rather than first officer. They share duties more equally with the pilot-in-command.

Second Officer – Some longer haul international airline flights may also have a third pilot called the second officer. They provide relief on extended journeys.

Pilot In Command (PIC) – The PIC is the pilot responsible for the aircraft, crew, and passengers during flight. This is a function rather than rank. The PIC may be the captain, first officer or a sufficiently rated co-pilot.

Student – A pilot in training who has not yet attained full licensure will be considered a student pilot. They must have an instructor present while learning.

So in essence, “pilot” is now the umbrella catch-all term for anyone certified to operate an aircraft, no matter their specific role or rank aboard. Gendered labels have rightly been shed.

Military Callsigns: Mavericks, Jesters and Hogs, Oh My!

Within military aviation, you’ll encounter a whole new vocabulary unrelated to standard civilian terminology. Here, pilots don’t go by names – they operate under callsigns!

A callsign is a nickname identifier assigned to a pilot that’s used for all communications, both in the air and on the ground. Callsigns are concise and help maintain brevity in fast-paced flight operations. They also obscure pilots‘ real identities, which can be advantageous for security.

Some common conventions for pilot callsigns include:

Phonetic Alphabet – This is when callsigns are assigned using the ICAO phonetic aviation alphabet, like Viper, Eagle, Maverick, or Iceman.

Meteorological – Weather-related callsigns for pilots evoke force and power: Hurricane, Cyclone, Blizzard, Tempest.

Creature – Animal callsigns conjure up virile imagery, like Bear, Cougar, Bronco, Wolf, or Raptor.

Color – Simple color names like Red, Blue, Green or Black. Easy to remember.

Mythological – Names from ancient myths, like Zeus, Thor, or Poseidon. These may be reserved for senior ranking pilots.

The variety is endless! Callsigns are meant to be distinctive, memorable and catchy. They’re chosen either by fellow squadron members or derived from a memorable incident in a pilot’s past.

For example, Brigadier General Robin Olds became known as “Wolf” for aggressively pursuing enemies in combat. Famed test pilot Chuck Yeager was dubbed “Glamorous Glennis” after his wife.

Callsigns promote camaraderie and morale. Having a cool callsign embroidered on your flight suit just looks badass. It’s a major part of pilot culture. But more importantly, callsigns are all business when it comes to fast and clear communication in the skies.

Callsigns in Civilian Aviation – From TWA to “Bueno Mios Fritos Grande”

Beyond military aviation, callsigns have also been widely adopted in civilian flying. While not as hardcore as "Warthog" or "Jester", civilian pilots still benefit from having concise callsigns when communicating with air traffic control.

For airlines, the callsign is simply the airline name and flight number, like "United 232" or "Southwest 114." No fun nicknames required.

Private and corporate pilots can get more creative with their aircraft‘s callsign, officially termed a “tidal wave” callsign. You need to register these with the FAA in the US, but they allow more personalization.

Some examples of real life tidal wave callsigns:

• Hemisphere – owned by an astronomy hobbyist

• Cloud Nine – perfect for a sky aficionado

• Mile High – ideal for Colorado-based pilots

• Firefly – glowing callsign for night owls

• Serenity – peaceful and zen for laidback aviators

The possibilities are wide open. A unique callsign helps controllers instantly recognize you on the radio. It also enables you to show off a bit of your personality!

In my opinion, civilian callsigns strike a nice balance – professionally registered with the FAA but still fun. Not to mention, way less work than having to come up with a whole new military style callsign when you move to a different squadron!

Why Standard Terminology Matters in Aviation

Aviation by nature requires clear communication and common understanding. A pilot and air traffic controller speaking different languages would quickly end in disaster.

That’s why beginning in the 1920s, there was a push to develop and codify standard universal aviation terminology. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was formed to maintain these standards that are now used globally.

Some examples of universally used phrases:

• Wilco – Will comply with your instructions
• Roger – Indicates understanding / agreement
• Affirm – Yes
• Negative – No
• Cleared to land – Permission granted to land

Pilots must maintain extensive fluency in standard ICAO phraseology. At times, non-standard terminology may be used conversationally between pilots and controllers who know each other. But when it comes to critical phases of flight, strict adherence to standards is essential.

Standardized aviation English reduces ambiguity and miscommunication. It’s designed to be simple, clear and repeated back to confirm understanding. This precision has been crucial for safe flight operations spanning language and cultural barriers.

Pilot Lingo – Greasin’ Landings and Kickin’ the Tires

Beyond the standardized terminology found in textbooks, pilots have also developed their own catalog of colorful slang terms over time. This "pilot speak" enables succinct communication in the air and reflects the unique aviation environment.

Here’s a sampling of some common lingo:

Grease a landing – A super smooth touchdown where you barely feel the wheels touch down. The holy grail of landing perfection!

Kick the tires – During preflight, this refers to physically checking the tires for proper inflation and any damage. Also means generally inspecting the aircraft.

Hangar flying – Pilot storytelling and banter that happens when gathered around the hangar. Like old fisherman at the dock!

Touch and go – A practice maneuver where you land the plane and immediately take off again without coming to a stop. Doing these repetitively helps hone skills.

Check six – "Check six o‘clock" means scan behind your aircraft for any traffic approaching from the rear. Six o‘clock is straight back in pilot time speak.

Bent metal – A term for damaged aircraft, like getting sheet metal crumpled. Not a good day when bent metal occurs!

Bingo fuel – The minimum fuel needed to safely make it back to the airport. Running low on fuel in flight is dire situation no pilot wants.

This lingo emerged organically from aviation culture, almost like a dialect unique to those who spend their time sky high. It adds some spice and humor to routine transmissions.

Next time you’re at the airport, you might overhear some of these quirky terms bandied about. Now you’ll be in the loop on what those wacky pilots are talking about!

“Blue Skies and Tailwinds” – A Pilot Saying With History

One popular phrase I hear pilots use when parting ways is “blue skies and tailwinds!” This is offered as a greeting, goodbye, or wish of good luck. As an aviation aficionado, I really appreciate the imagery evoked in just five words.

“Blue skies” is a wish for clear, tranquil skies for smooth flying. Grey stormy gloom is the enemy of pilots! And we all know tailwinds provide an aerodynamic boost inflight, allowing you to fly faster for less effort.

The saying traces back to the years following World War II. Exhausted pilots were finally returning home from war overseas. Many hadn’t seen calm blue skies for years – instead they’d flown intensively in perilous conditions.

As pilots came home, wishing each other “blue skies and tailwinds” took on significance. It meant sincerely hoping your buddy now got to enjoy carefree days with favorable winds at their back.

Today, “blue skies and tailwinds” remains a popular colloquialism, reminding pilots of unpredictability aloft and wishing fellow aviators an optimal flight ahead.

I always smile when hearing it among pilots crossing paths at the airport. This simple phrase connects us to the aviators of the past while transmitting an eternal message of bon voyage!

Changes Around Diversity and Inclusion

Like in many fields, the aviation industry has sought to become more diverse and inclusive in recent decades. Cockpits that were once homogenous work environments have gradually integrated women and people of diverse backgrounds.

In the US, just over 5% of airline transport pilots were women in 2021 according to the FAA. While still low, the proportion has risen steadily since 1960 when no female airline pilots existed!

Military aviation has also focused more on inclusion, with people of color now comprising over one-third of Air Force pilots based on recent data.

Increasing diversity has meant reexamining some traditional elements of pilot culture. For instance, the tradition of pilots giving each other funny callsigns has enabled inappropriate, offensive nicknames at times.

Correcting these problematic practices has been an area of focus across the industry. There’s also more emphasis on using gender-neutral language where possible.

Overall, there’s now greater recognition that while cockpit teamwork and camaraderie have long been integral in aviation, this is possible in an equitable environment for all.

As new generations continue entering the piloting profession, traditions will balance with emerging cultural norms around respect and progress. The future heading looks bright.

My Takeaway Thoughts

In my view as an aviation enthusiast, the culture and language of pilots has always been a fascinating microcosm to observe. As aviation technology races ahead at blistering speeds, in some ways the lingo and labels remain charmingly old-school.

Yet I’ve been glad to see concrete movement around updating antiquated terminology and aiming for more diversity across the piloting workforce.

Standardized procedures and communication are the bedrock of safe flight operations. But there’s definitely still room for lingo that keeps the humanity intact! If pilots became entirely robotic, flying would lose some of its soul.

The aerial domain is inherently a very human place, as pilots contend with the flexibility required aloft and the camaraderie forged with fellow aviators. The stories, sayings and legends passed down reflect this rich history.

But ultimately, whether you’re a captain, commander, aviator, or just a humble pilot like me, the magic happens when all those labels fall away and you find yourself simply merging with the skies. That’s a moment all aviators live for.

So here‘s wishing blue skies and tailwinds ahead for all those with the spirit of flight stirred within. Keep your eyes on the horizon and enjoy the view from above when you get the chance!