Just as the flight data recorders from Air France Flight 447 were first being read–a few weeks shy of the two-year anniversary of the aircraft’s fatal plunge into the Atlantic Ocean four hours after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro en route to Paris–I started receiving calls from reporters asking for comment on word leaking out that pilot errors had caused the aircraft to stall and crash, killing all 228 people aboard. My first thought: how cruel to the families of the dead pilots to scapegoat them by leaking derogatory information about their handling of the flight’s final minutes, even before the investigation was completed, data analyzed and conclusions officially reached.
But how convenient, as well. The rush to blame the pilots conveniently grabbed the media’s attention away from possible problems with the Airbus A330 and the actions of its manufacturer, the airline and the French government in response to reports of issues with the pitot tubes. If the pitot tubes stop functioning for whatever reason–including becoming clogged with ice or other substances–airspeed indicators in the cockpit will be inaccurate and information relayed to the computers flying the aircraft will also be inaccurate. It’s not hard to imagine that confusing data in the cockpit could have led to confused actions by the crew. So while talking heads argued about what the pilots should or should not have done, focus drifted from why Airbus, Air France and the DGAC (the French equivalent of the FAA) may have failed to replace faulty pitot tubes in a timely manner. The very same pitot tubes might have been responsible for the confusing data the pilots were forced to wrangle with.
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.
