May 11 marked the 20-year anniversary of the ValuJet crash. For those who are too young to remember ValuJet, it was one of the many low-cost start-ups that sprang up in the years after deregulation encouraged new entrants into the airline business. Most started and failed. While safety concerns surrounded many of these low-cost carriers, the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 into the Everglades 10 minutes after takeoff from Miami International Airport shined a bright light on some of those safety issues.
The ValuJet crash is personal for me; I was the Board Member who chaired the NTSB public hearing for that accident. As many of you know, the NTSB holds public hearings on major accidents, those that have significant public interest or where significant safety issues may be involved. ValuJet was a major accident that not only had tremendous public interest but also raised many safety concerns, particularly with regard to the safety of so-called “low cost” carriers, a concern that continues to this day. At the public hearing, testimony is taken from experts in various relevant fields so a complete and accurate factual record can be developed. That record then becomes the basis for the NTSB’s probable cause and contributing cause determinations and the recommendations it makes to the government and the industry to prevent future accidents.
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.
More In Accidents
