Definition
A person carried aboard an aircraft who is not a member of the flight crew and has no role in the operation or control of the aircraft.
Plain English
Anyone on board who isn't flying the aircraft or working as crew. They are along for the ride, not running the flight.
Context Anchor
You will see this word in preflight briefings, aircraft loading decisions, operating rules, and discussions about carrying people on a flight.
Derivation
From the Old French passager, meaning 'one who passes through.' In aviation it keeps that sense: someone being transported from one place to another, rather than someone operating the means of transport.
Why Pilots Care
Affects weight-and-balance calculations, regulatory requirements for pilot certification, and rules about carrying people for hire.
Intuition Check
Do not assume passenger means only a paying customer. In aviation, a passenger can be a friend, family member, or any other person aboard who is not required crew.
Example Sentence 1
Before carrying passengers on a cross-country flight, the pilot confirmed she had completed three takeoffs and landings within the previous 90 days.
Example Sentence 2
Adding one more passenger required updating the aircraft weight and balance.