Oh well, your choice. I'd rather take brave bird which will do more damage, (hopefully KOing the opponent) take damage from the recoil and burn/poison instead of get hit by something, which does more damage than the recoil.
Oh.
Why Aerial Ace? The strategy is to protect, so your toxic orb activates. Then you'll have a poison'd swellow with guts. (doubles attack when there's a status problem) and spam facade. (Doubles power when there's a status problem.) Plus STAB which does tons of damage.