The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Aeronautics \A`["e]r*o*naut"ics\, n.
   The science or art of ascending and sailing in the air, as by
   means of a balloon; a["e]rial navigation; ballooning.
   [1913 Webster] Aerophobia

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

aeronautics
    n 1: the theory and practice of navigation through air or space
         [syn: aeronautics, astronautics]