Dirigible pilot (8)
I believe the answer is:
aeronaut
'dirigible pilot' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for aeronaut that I've seen before include "Pilot, flier" , "Balloonist" , "Pilot - Eton aura (anag)" , "Early traveller by air" , "Someone who operates an aircraft" .)