If you missed the NTSB’s safety alerts this past month, three were targeted at general aviation pilots and one at GA mechanics. The three aimed at pilots involve flying in mountainous terrain; transition training when flying different aircraft or aircraft with different flying characteristics or avionics; and the importance of performing detailed preflight checks after maintenance, especially maintenance involving flight control and trim systems. The alert targeted to the GA maintenance community stems from recent accidents involving improperly rigged flight controls and trim system. The alerts targeted to the GA pilots and mechanics involving maintenance raise an issue near and dear to my heart: the importance of communication between maintenance and flight operations. Communications between maintenance and flight ops is critical no matter whether the operation involved is an airline operated under Part 121 or Part 135 or a private operation under Part 91. Of course, in general aviation, the pilot is often the only person in the “flight department” so communication directly between the maintenance provider and the pilot is crucial to ensuring safety after maintenance is performed.
In my experience as a mechanic who worked on both airline and general aviation aircraft and as an NTSB member reviewing accidents, communication between those who maintain aircraft and those who fly aircraft is not as good as it could and should be. In these alerts, the NTSB highlights one particular area where the failure to communicate clearly can have tragic results for the GA pilot.
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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