Definition 1 of 2
Definition
The group of people assigned to operate an aircraft in flight. This includes the flight crew responsible for flying and navigating the aircraft (such as the pilot, copilot, and flight engineer) and, on larger aircraft, the cabin crew responsible for passenger safety and service.
Plain English
The team of people working on an aircraft to fly it and look after the passengers.
Context Anchor
Seen in regulations, aircraft operating procedures, passenger briefings, and discussions of who is responsible for duties during a flight.
Derivation
From the Old French 'creue' meaning 'an increase' or 'reinforcement,' originally referring to a body of soldiers or sailors gathered to reinforce a ship or unit. In aviation it carries the same sense: the assigned group needed to operate the aircraft.
Why Pilots Care
Clear crew roles and coordination are essential for safe operations and are central to crew resource management training.
Intuition Check
Do not assume crew means everyone on board. In aviation, crew means the people assigned to work the flight; passengers are not crew unless they have assigned flight duties.
Example Sentence 1
The captain briefed the crew on the planned departure and expected weather along the route.
Example Sentence 2
The airline adjusted the crew schedule due to a delayed inbound flight.