The NTSB’s 2016 Most Wanted list of transportation safety improvements makes it clear to me how many of the recommendations come back to individual accountability and responsibility, especially the importance of keeping up-to-date with the latest safety information and taking responsibility for one’s own decisions. This is true for every level of aviation, from GA to the largest airlines, repair stations and manufacturers. It is especially true for general aviation because there is no corporate structure to share responsibility for, say, training or scheduling. For GA pilots and mechanics–including pilots and mechanics at small corporate operations–it’s really all up to you to seek out the education you need to operate safely and to hold yourselves personally responsible.
Some recommendations show up on the top-ten list year after year. That’s OK; sometimes the problems are difficult to deal with. But that doesn’t mean we don’t keep trying. Seven of the NTSB’s 10 recommendations this year are applicable to aviation and can be implemented, at least to some extent, by aircraft owners and individual pilots. The recommendations are:
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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