With all the recent scandals involving cabinet cecretaries misusing government travel budgets to mix business trips with private junkets to vacation homes, lunches with family members or political events, private flight charters are once again taking a hit in the mainstream media and on social media. Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price was forced to resign after investigative reports revealed that he had taken at least 26 charter jet flights costing approximately $400,000. His justification for flying charter for government work looked slim—he allegedly flew a number of times to cities where he had vacation homes or to have lunch with his son—and the controversy painted charter flying as the province of the decadent elite, rather than as a business tool needed in appropriate circumstances to get the government’s work done effectively and efficiently.
As someone who has worked with private charter companies for many years, I believe the media portrayal is not only unfair but also requires a response. First, it’s unfair because it paints the industry in a bad light—as though the misuse were the charter companies’ fault and not just the government officials’. Second, it’s the wrong message. If high-level officials are to be more efficient and productive, private charters are the appropriate way to travel in some cases. But with all the ongoing investigations by inspectors general in multiple executive departments, it’s likely that there will be a further crackdown on private charters, even when such use would be not only legal and proper but also enhance government operations. That would be an unfortunate result.
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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