"Aerosocial theory" is an anthropological framework developed by the University of Cestlep to describe a particular lifestyle in Oceanyka, that of airmen, who spend most of their time in the skies, normally dying up there alongside their machines much like sailors do. Most airmen have developed strong mechanical skills and extremely high-altitude acclimatization, on par with professional mountaineers.
Aerosocial theory makes a distinction between three layers:
- Low Airspace (0-12km), which is the realm of propeller aircraft and early jets. It spans the whole of the troposphere.
- Middle Airspace (12-20km), which is the realm of modern jets. It spans the lower end of the stratosphere.
- High Airspace (20-30km), which is the realm of airships. It spans the middle of the stratosphere.
Airmen possess distinctive cultural characteristics depending on the layer that they spend the most time on. For example, airshipmen who spend most of their time in the middle stratosphere possess a very strong sense of community and an obsession with machinery that approaches religious worship. This is no surprise, as airship crews are mutually dependent to an enormous degree, and rely on life-support machinery such as the Espinoza Oxygen Generator to survive.