Qilei Zhang is a lecturer in the aviation department of the School of Engineering and Technology at CQUniversity, with expertise in aviation management, transportation data analysis, and advanced air mobility. Zhang completed a Ph.D. at Purdue University in May 2024, where his research focused on leveraging advanced computational technologies to enhance safety, reliability, and sustainability in transportation systems. Zhang also earned a Master's degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Transportation Engineering. He gained practical experience through impactful roles in the aviation sector. At Frontier Airlines, Zhang developed data-driven models using advanced machine learning techniques for route optimization and conducted strategic industry analyses. Additionally, during his practicum at the International Civil Aviation Organization, Zhang streamlined project operations and improved project visibility. Passionate about aligning his work with broader research objectives, Zhang actively seeks opportunities to collaborate and contribute to advancing the field of transportation systems.

John H. Mott is a Professor at the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Electrical Engineering and of Purdue University with a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, he also possesses an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings, an FAA Flight Instructor Certificate with Airplane Single-and Multi-Engine and Instrument ratings, and an FAA Ground Instructor Certificate with Advanced and Instrument ratings. He holds type ratings in the Beech King Air 300, Hawker HS-125, and Canadair Challenger 600. He has worked as a flight instructor, a charter pilot, chief pilot, and director of training for a FAR 135 operator, an airline pilot flying the SA-226TC Metroliner, and as a corporate pilot in many different aircraft models. Before joining Purdue, he was Engineering Manager for a firm in Birmingham, Alabama, and he also operated an electronics design and manufacturing business for many years. He is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a former member of the Board of Trustees of the University Aviation Association (UAA), and a former member of the Standing Committee on Airfield Capacity and Delay of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.