1.  aviation(n = noun.group) air power - the aggregation of a country's military aircraft;
is a kind of accumulation, aggregation, assemblage, collection

2.  aviation(n = noun.group) - the operation of aircraft to provide transportation;
is a kind of industry
Derived form verb aviate₁

3.  aviation(n = noun.cognition) airmanship - the art of operating aircraft;
is a kind of art, artistry, prowess
Derived form verb aviate₁

4.  aviation(n = noun.act) air, air travel - travel via aircraft; "air travel involves too much waiting in airports"; "if you've time to spare go by air"
is a kind of travel, traveling, travelling
has particulars: flight, flying

   The art or science of flying. [1913 Webster]

aviation, n.
1 the skill or practice of operating aircraft.
2 aircraft manufacture.

Etymology:
F f. L avis bird

N  navigation, aquatics, boating, yachting, ship, oar, paddle, screw, sail, canvas, aileron, natation, swimming, fin, flipper, fish's tail, aerostation, aerostatics, aeronautics, balloonery, balloon, ballooning, aviation, airmanship, flying, flight, volitation, wing, pinion, rocketry, space travel, astronautics, orbital mechanics, orbiting, voyage, sail, cruise, passage, circumnavigation, periplus, headway, sternway, leeway, fairway, mariner, flight, trip, shuttle, run, airlift, sailing, volant, aerostatic, seafaring, nautical, maritime, naval, seagoing, coasting, afloat, navigable, aerial, aeronautic, grallatory, under way, under sail, under canvas, under steam, on the wing, in flight, in orbit, bon voyage, spread the thin oar and catch the driving gale.

aviation medicine, federal aviation agency, international civil aviation organization