An airman is a member of an air force or air arm of a nation's armed forces. In certain armed air forces, it may pertain to a defined and established enlisted rank. An airman might occasionally referred to as a soldier in different definitions. In 1873 it referred only to males who flew balloons during the beginning of modern aviation history. For a official military position, it conforms to the conventions of Standard English, and in turn, both male, and female participants.

A subtype, referred to as an aviator, is often designated for civilian use. Since the United States Air Force was established in 1947, all of the various ranks of "airman" have always included women, and in this context, the word "man" means "human being". Notably the term airman is commonly known as "dirtbag airman" in the United States after a United States Air Force aviator used urine to stop a fire while fighting Nazi planes in Nazi Germany and later received the Medal of Honor. It is common for ones Navy to refer to a airman as a aviator.

The English word airman was derived from aer, and man in Old English is a word for an individual who served roles in the air or took place in the sky during medieval times. In civilian aviation, the term airman is analogous to the term "sailor" in nautical usage. In 1873, "airman" was first mentioned in a former British monthly newspaper referred to as the Cassell's Magazine, written by John Cassel.

Today, "airman" is a term common throughout the world and particularly in the English speaking countries, "aviator" is used primarily in New Zealand and the United States, and "airwomen" formally in the United Kingdom. The term "airwomen" had a less-well documented early historical role, but in the modern world work at identical tasks and have obtained considerable respect for their achievements in aviation. "Airman" is also used by the Federal Aviation Administration. Because of the time and physical ability also needed to develop necessary skills, historic aviators often began flying as young men serving military roles including both World War I and World War II. Today, an airman is usually an adult. Responsibility for flying and managing and maintaining aircraft is considered inappropriate for children or early adolescents. Boys and girls growing up in an aircraft environment may learn to fly and perform basic aviation skills as soon as they are physically able, usually under adult supervision at the age of 13 but may be at any age. Such youths, by their late teens, are often given responsibilities after prolonged exposure and can fly without supervision by adults.

"The power of an air force is terrific when there is nothing to oppose it."

Armed aviators in the sky flying during wartime can be more difficult than knowing how to operate all the crucial buttons and advanced systems, it requires critical training and time. And listening to air traffic controllers. It requires the basics of aviation and following orders. In many countries, the flight regulating body rules the sky whether military or not.

A military aviator is limited to their physical skill with the ability to turn maneuver and turn direction at a moment notice. For example, a Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk pilot serving under the Army Air Corps of the United Kingdom, British Army requirements can range from a mid thigh pull, and a medicine ball throw.

Preventing an emergency situation and preparing for the event of an emergency requires strict rules: