Definition
An aircraft operated without a pilot on board, controlled either remotely by a human operator from a ground station or autonomously by onboard systems following a pre-programmed flight plan.
Plain English
An aircraft that flies without a pilot inside it. Someone on the ground controls it, or it follows instructions programmed into its computer.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter this term in airspace information, airport notices, safety reports, and regulations about drones and other remotely operated aircraft.
Derivation
Unmanned' simply means 'without a person on board.' The term distinguishes these aircraft from 'manned' aircraft, where a pilot physically sits in the cockpit.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding unmanned aircraft helps manned pilots anticipate traffic patterns, follow right-of-way rules, and maintain separation in mixed airspace.
Analogy
Like a large remote-controlled model airplane used for real work such as inspection or delivery.
Intuition Check
Unmanned does not mean uncontrolled. It means no person is aboard the aircraft to fly it from inside.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot reported an unmanned aircraft operating below 400 feet near the approach path.
Example Sentence 2
Controllers issued a traffic advisory to the manned aircraft regarding the nearby unmanned aircraft.