The Merriam-Webster online Thesaurus define an Aviator as the operator or pilot of an aircraft and especially an airplane . So, according to that definition & only pilots who fly planes can be called aviators.
An airline pilot, or aviator, transports passengers and cargo by airplane. Some commercial aviators perform other duties, such as dusting crops or monitoring traffic. These professionals may also be aviation engineers who are highly skilled in handling the electronic equipment found in aircraft.
