More than a month has passed since the sudden disappearance of EgyptAir Flight 804 from radar screens and its plunge into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea. The Airbus A320 was flying from Paris to Cairo at 37,000 feet when—according to investigators—it turned left, then rolled to the right before falling into the sea, along with its 56 passengers and crew of 10. Initial speculation about a catastrophic midair explosion–possibly caused by an explosive device–has given way to speculation about a number of other possible causes. But no one knows for sure. And no one will know for sure until the black box data—finally retrieved as I write—has been brought to a laboratory and the data analyzed. Unfortunately, at least one of the black boxes appears to have been damaged. At this point, it’s not known whether the time spent in salt water has done further damage.
Until those black boxes are analyzed, the speculation and theories will remain speculation and theories. No one will know whether the disaster was caused by a problem with the crew’s operation of the aircraft, calling into question EgyptAir’s training and certification of pilots; whether a problem existed with the Airbus A320, which would make checking the thousands of A320s in worldwide operation prudent; or whether security procedures at Charles de Gaulle Airport or other airports the aircraft operated out of need to be scrutinized for lapses.
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.
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