As I write, many long-time aviation accident investigators like myself are reeling from the events of the last few days and weeks. Two tragic airline crashes with significant loss of life just a few months apart in brand-new aircraft are, of course, tremendously concerning. Usually, aviation experts quickly and methodically tackle the investigations of the accidents to determine what occurred and how to prevent it from occurring in the future.
That did not happen after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 that followed five months after the Lion Air Flight 610. A breakdown in the normally orderly process of accident crash investigation was taking place before our eyes, along with an apparent dismantling of the usual cooperation among those crash investigators from around the world. Not only did China and other countries ground the Boeing 737 Max with seemingly little or no coordination with the U.S.—the country that issued the aircraft its type certificate—but it also did so with little analysis, or at least transparency, of the reasons for its grounding.
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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