At the same time as the Southwest 737 Flight 812 debacle was unfolding–almost as rapidly as the fuselage skin tore off the aircraft shortly after departure from Phoenix–a book crossed my desk that could have been written for the aviation industry, and Boeing and Southwest in particular. But the FAA could also take a lesson. Rarely do I read a book not written specifically for our industry that I think is a must-read for aviation executives and workers alike, from top to bottom, from airlines to GA, from captains to mechanics to gate agents and everyone in between. And, dare I say, most especially for the FAA. That book is Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril by Margaret Heffernan.
The lessons of the book were hauntingly present as I read various media reports of Boeing appearing to take the public relations hit for its largest customer, saying it was surprised (surprised!) by the cracks in a high-cycle aircraft that let a five-foot skylight punch through the fuselage to the horror of the passengers and crew. According to The Wall Street Journal, a Boeing spokesperson referring to the damage on the 737, stated, “We did not expect this to happen.” Wow! Really? Boeing didn’t expect a high-cycle aircraft to develop cracks that could ultimately break open and peel away the skin of the fuselage? Sounds hard to believe.
With more than 40 years experience in the aviation industry, The Honorable John Goglia, was the first and only Airframe and Powerplant mechanic to receive a presidential appointment to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). He served from August 1995 to June 2004.
As a Board Member, Mr. Goglia distinguished himself in numerous areas of transportation safety. In particular, he was instrumental in raising awareness of airport safety issues, including the importance of airport crash fire and rescue operations and the dangers of wildlife at airports. He played a key role in focusing international attention on the increasing significance of aircraft maintenance in aviation accidents. He pressed, successfully, for greater integration of civilian and military safety information, becoming a featured speaker at national aviation symposiums attended by military leaders and major defense contractors. He is a leading proponent of airplane child safety seats.
Prior to becoming a Board Member, Mr. Goglia held numerous positions in the airline industry. He started as a mechanic for United Airlines and eventually joined Allegheny, which became USAir. Additionally, he was involved for more than 20 years as a union flight safety representative on accident investigation teams. There, he developed a safety program for his union, the International Association of Machinists, and was its representative for NTSB investigations. For twelve years, he operated his own aircraft service company.
Numerous prestigious groups have recognized Mr. Goglia’s contributions to aviation safety. Aviation Week & Space Technology awarded him a coveted 2004 Laurel for his outstanding service as an NTSB Board member. The Society of Automotive Engineers presented him with the Aerospace Chair Award for outstanding leadership in 2003 and the Marvin Whitlock Award for outstanding management accomplishment in 2002.
