飞行员或称飞机师，是指出于职业或非盈利性需要（例如：娱乐）驾驶航空器的人员。

在民用航空领域，除满足特定要求的情况外，各国民航当局一般都要求航空器驾驶员需持有相应的有效执照或合格证方可进行飞行活动。常见的航空器驾驶员执照按用途分有：私用、仪器飞行、商用（CPL）、航线运输，等四种；按航空器类型分一般有定翼机（飞机）、旋翼机（包括直升机和自转旋翼机）、滑翔机、轻于空气航空器（包括气球和飞艇）。由于各国民用航空当局的规定不尽相同，所以航空器驾驶员执照或合格证的类型上还有很大差异。

战斗机飞行员要能承受高速回转时的高G力，因此平时需要许多体能训练来保持良好的体能。为确保飞航安全，民用航空器飞行员每年需通过较一般人严格的健康检查以及考核，方能继续持有飞行员执照。

An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who actively and directly operates the directional flight controls of an aircraft while it is in flight. While other members of a flight crew such as flight engineer, navigator, or any other person involved in the direct flight operations of an aircraft (whether it be a fixed wing airplane, rotary-wing, powered, or unpowered), are also considered "aviators", they are not pilots and do not command a flight or aircraft. Aircrew who are not involved in operating the aircraft's flight systems (such as cabin attendants and mechanics) as well as ground crew are not generally classified as aviators.