Who is the operator of an aircraft?

• A. Means the owner of the aircraft
• B. Means the PIC
• C. None of the above
• D. Means the person in possession of the aircraft, whether as owner, lessee, hirer or otherwise

Answer: (D)

In aviation, the operator is the person who has possession and control of the aircraft and the authority to use it for operation. This can be the owner, but it can also be someone who has leased or hired the aircraft and is authorized to operate it. The key idea is possession and the granted right to operate, not just who happens to be piloting the plane on a given flight.

That’s why the best answer is the person in possession of the aircraft, whether owner, lessee, hirer, or otherwise—because it covers all the common arrangements where someone other than the owner is responsible for operating the aircraft. The owner isn’t automatically the operator if the aircraft is leased or hired to another party. The pilot in command is in charge of the flight, but being the PIC doesn’t by itself make someone the operator; the operator is defined by possession and authority to use the aircraft. None of the above is incorrect because there is a clear definition for the operator in terms of possession and control.