معرفی
Dr. Yi Gao is an Associate Professor in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University. He teaches Aviation Management courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Prior to joining Purdue, Dr. Gao served as the Aviation Course Director at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia. He has been actively involved in academic leadership, serving as the Editor for Collegiate Aviation Review International (2021-2023) and currently as the Educator Trustee for the University Aviation Association.
Dr. Gao earned his PhD in Technology from Purdue University, specializing in Aviation Management. His educational background has prepared him to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical applications in the aviation industry.
Dr. Gao's research focuses on critical aspects of air transportation systems. His work spans several interconnected domains that address both operational and economic challenges in modern aviation:
- Air Transportation Economics & Operations: Examining airport revenue streams, pricing strategies, and economic impacts of aviation activities
- Customer Loyalty Programs & Frequent Flyer Programs: Analyzing consumer behavior, program effectiveness, and revenue implications of airline loyalty initiatives
- Transport Geography: Investigating airport catchment areas, passenger flow patterns, and spatial relationships in aviation networks
- Aviation Safety: Exploring safety reporting systems, incident detection, and safety culture in aviation organizations
- Aviation Education: Developing competency-based curriculum and evaluating skill alignment between academic programs and industry needs
Dr. Gao's recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory in applying advanced analytical methods to aviation challenges. His work increasingly incorporates data science techniques including machine learning, spatial analysis, and text mining to extract insights from complex aviation datasets. A notable trend in his research is the examination of non-aeronautical revenue streams for airports, particularly focusing on parking revenues, loyalty programs, and e-commerce impacts. His airport catchment area research has evolved from theoretical modeling to practical applications using mobile location data, resulting in tools that help airports better understand their service areas. Another significant theme is the analysis of consumer behavior in airline loyalty programs, with recent work examining the effectiveness of innovative offerings like flight passes.
Dr. Gao has received several prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to aviation education and research:
- President's Award from the University Aviation Association (2022)
- Teaching Leadership Award from Purdue University (2022)
- Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship from Purdue University (2009-2010)
- Frederick N. Andrews Fellowship from Purdue University (2006-2009)
- ACRP Graduate Research Award (2022-2023)
Dr. Gao has successfully mentored multiple PhD students to completion, including Dr. Sen Wang who now serves as an Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University. His current doctoral students include Zhi Dou, Jiayu Liu, and Tolulope Oluwumi, all working on cutting-edge aviation research topics. His students have received competitive awards including the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Scholarship Award. Dr. Gao has secured significant research funding through projects with the Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), including projects ACRP 01-55, ACRP 03-72, and ACRP 03-74. He has also contributed to major research reports published by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, including "Toolkit for Establishing Airport Catchment Areas" and "State of Airport Loyalty Programs."
Dr. Gao leads a dynamic research group focused on empirical aviation studies. His team has developed practical tools including the Travel Utility Analysis tool for visualizing airport catchment areas and sentiment analysis tools for airline customer feedback. The group maintains strong industry connections through partnerships with organizations like ISTAT (International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading) and regular participation in industry conferences. Dr. Gao serves on multiple professional committees including the Transportation Research Board's Standing Committee on Airport Terminals and Ground Access (AV050), and is an active member of the Air Transport Research Society and the Airline Group of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies.
