It’s difficult for me–and perhaps many of you who have worked late night shifts, as well–to read the NTSB’s preliminary report of the UPS Airbus A300 that crashed in the early morning hours of August 14 last year just short of the runway in Birmingham, Ala., and not think of our own experiences working midnight shifts. Both the pilot and copilot were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. This accident, like any aircraft accident–especially one with fatalities–is disturbing to those of us who have spent our lives in aviation, but particularly so when the circumstances of the crew hit uncomfortably close to home.
In this case, the Board shines a bright–if not harsh–light on the personal decisions many of us midnight-shift workers make all too frequently: to use the hours we should be sleeping to take care of personal or family matters. For these crewmembers, fatigue might have contributed to the accident that took their lives. In other cases, fatigue has led to mechanics and other airport workers making mistakes that can cause or be contributing factors in aircraft accidents or can be factors in their own injuries or even death on the ground.
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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