Stress is all around us these days. Probably nowhere more so than in the pack ’em in, move ’em out world that travel by air has become–at least for those unfortunate enough not to have access to their own aircraft or private charter. Airline travel is a pressure cooker for passengers and crew alike, with tensions often flaring because too many humans and their unchecked cargo are shoehorned into the confined quarters that are our modern aircraft cabins. Add uncomfortable cabin temperatures–whether too hot or too cold–and weather or mechanical delays and tensions rise.
But while there’s clearly a toll on passengers, many of us on the safety side of the industry are increasingly concerned about crewmember stress and the way it may be playing out in the cockpits and cabins of airlines big and small. Maybe the spectacular meltdown of a JetBlue pilot that forced a copilot to lock him out of his cockpit wasn’t caused by stress, or could not have been predicted. Perhaps stress wasn’t to blame for the March 2012 meltdown of an American flight attendant or for the 2010 dramatic take-this-job-and-shove-it emergency slide of a JetBlue flight attendant.
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.
