The FAA talks a lot about the importance of safety management systems. It has several web pages dedicated to SMS. Newsletters dedicated to SMS. And employees certainly talk it up at internal and external meetings. But talk is cheap, as we all know. If the FAA is serious about SMS and the benefits of a structured, data-driven approach to identifying and eliminating or mitigating hazards to aviation, it needs to make SMS mandatory throughout the aviation industry. There’s no way to garner the full benefits of SMS by depending solely on volunteer adoption. For one thing, a lot of entities just won’t do it voluntarily.
Well, to date it’s pretty clear that the FAA’s failure to promulgate rules speaks volumes about its real commitment to SMS. And, no, making SMS mandatory does not mean one-size-fits-all. It would be ludicrous to expect small mom-and-pop Part 135 operators to have the same extensive SMS as major Part 121 airlines. But it’s also ludicrous to expect a universal embracing of SMS in the absence of a rule. It takes time, commitment and money to develop and implement an SMS program. Many operators I’ve spoken with who would adopt an SMS are leery of spending time and money developing an SMS without knowing when and if the FAA is going to issue rules, rules that could conflict with their own programs and require them to make expensive changes.
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.
