How big data enriches aviation research: A critical review of flight data applications

The growing variety of flight data, the expanding scope of its applications, and the continuous improvement in data quality have collectively accelerated the digital transformation of the aviation industry. Advances in multi-source data fusion and analytical methods have further unlocked the potential of flight data for operational insights and decision support. This study first summarizes the main characteristics of different flight data sources and then provides a comprehensive review of the literature on flight data applications. The reviewed studies are grouped into three key domains: operations and maintenance, safety supervision, and strategic policies and sustainable development. Undoubtedly, the use of flight data will continue to expand in the foreseeable future. These data will support a deeper understanding of flight performance, airline operations, and airspace systems. They will also help international aviation organizations, airlines, engineers, and researchers improve decision-making, optimize resources, and develop more reliable and environmentally responsible aviation systems. More cross-disciplinary research using flight data is expected to emerge in the coming years. We believe this study offers a new perspective that can support the future development of flight data research.