I know the FAA is facing a lot of harsh criticism since the two Boeing 737 Max accidents less than six months apart: the Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia in October 2018 and the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash in March 2019. But those criticisms have focused on the FAA’s certification of the Boeing 737 Max and its oversight of Boeing. Some of that criticism is justified, in particular, allowing the aircraft to be certified with just one angle-of-attack (AOA) sensor for its MCAS—flight control software—system. One sensor for a critical component is a design failure that Boeing and the FAA should never have allowed. But there are more questions that the FAA needs to answer as a result of these accidents and their aftermath.
While Boeing and the FAA made their share of mistakes in certifying the 737 Max, my review of the available public information shines an even harsher light on Lion Air and its operation of revenue service flying passengers. And it begs the question, why has the Indonesian government failed to take strong action in light of the glaring maintenance and other errors revealed by its own accident report? And, if the accident report wasn’t enough, a New York Times investigation of the airline should be. If reporters could find these problems, one would hope the government agency entrusted with ensuring aviation safety in Indonesia could, as well.
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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