Today I’m writing to you about some news reports from the world of aviation that have left me shaking my head. I’ve seen a lot over my decades in aviation—starting as a teenager pulling bodies out of Boston Harbor after the crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 375, a Lockheed Electra that hit a flock of starlings, and through my years with the airlines as a union member and later as an NTSB member on scene for far too many fatal crashes—but I still manage to be dismayed at times by what I read and see that goes on. Some of the things I see are as a safety consultant, but what I will focus on here is what I see in media or other public reports.
The first comes from news reports involving a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 that flew from Akron, Ohio to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 28. According to an FAA statement to the news media, the crew made an emergency landing after reporting fumes in the cockpit. The Aviation Herald reported additional detail from its sources:
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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