Aerophilately

Aerophilately is the branch of philately that specializes in the study of airmail. Philatelists have observed the development of mail transport by air from its beginning, and all aspects of airmail service have been extensively studied and documented by specialists.

1932 Canadian "first official flight" cover, Great Bear Lake to Rae (now Behchoko), includes both a special cachet and a surcharged airmail stamp.

The scope of aerophilately includes:

• airmail postage stamps, both official and unofficial 
• other types of labels (such as airmail etiquettes)
• postal documents transmitted by air
• postal markings related to air transport
• rates and routes, particularly first flights and other "special" flights
• mail recovered from aircraft accidents and other incidents (crash covers)

While most of the study of airmail assumes transport by fixed-wing aircraft, the fields of balloon mail, dirigible mail, zeppelin mail, missile mail, and rocket mail are active subspecialties. Astrophilately, the study of mail in space, is a related area.

Melbourne - Launceston flown cover, carried by ANA Ltd on their inaugural air mail service.