Some days I feel like Richard Clarke the fateful summer before the tragedy of 9/11, when his hair was all on fire as his warnings about the mounting threats by Al Qaeda against the U.S. fell on deaf ears. We all know how that turned out. I feel the same way about the mounting threats to maintenance: from inadequately trained technicians to insufficient oversight by operators and regulators (yes, that’s you, FAA) to the constant pressure to move aircraft as cheaply and quickly as possible. And, of course, the growing concern about the impact of fatigue on the quality of maintenance. The scientific data is beyond dispute: fatigue can and does cause mistakes, by mechanics as by everyone else.
Wherever I go these days, mechanics are tired. Those lucky enough to have kept their jobs are–on average–working longer hours and more days than ever. In part, this is because operators want to do more with less. It is cheaper for them to pay overtime than to hire more mechanics and have to pay them benefits. And mechanics who have had their pay cut from years of givebacks are eagerly taking on overtime and part-time work to maintain their standards of living–which in some cases means staying just two steps ahead of the bill collector.
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.
