I’ve been thinking a lot about complacency since the crash of a Gulfstream IV on takeoff from Hanscom Field in Bedford, Mass., that left seven people dead. Any accident, especially one with fatalities, affects those of us who have spent our entire lives and careers in aviation. But one that occurs at an airport where we regularly work has a particular impact. The accident investigation continues, but the National Transportation Safety Board has already issued a preliminary report that raises some troubling questions about whether the pilots conducted a routine flight control check. According to the NTSB, the flight data recorder readout shows no flight control movement that would indicate that a check was done before takeoff. The preliminary report makes no mention of such a check recorded on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) but does state that the CVR readout indicates crew comments regarding aircraft control before the crash. The preliminary report thus raises the possibility that no flight control check was done and that a flight control problem may have been involved in causing the accident.
While it is too early to conclude that such a check was, in fact, not done, or that a problem with the flight controls led to the accident, it is not too early to consider the possibility that a highly experienced crew somehow skipped such a routine check and the implications that has for the rest of us in aviation. If this crucial step was missed, could it have been because of a complacent attitude toward checklists? Checklists are the foundation of aviation standardization and, through standardization, aviation safety. Checklists are particularly important during taxi and takeoff and during any time of high-stress activity when a pilot’s attention to detail could be diverted. But it is not unheard of for even the most experienced and highly trained among us to get complacent about the use of written checklists, even when performing safety critical functions, be they in maintenance, flying or other areas of aviation work.
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.
