As I sit down to write, news reports are highlighting a near disaster in India involving an Air India Express flight carrying 130 passengers and 6 crewmembers in a Boeing 737 that hit a brick airport boundary wall and then—incredibly—kept going for more than four hours, even after being informed by airport authorities of the collision. Like many disasters and near disasters, this event raises questions beyond the aeronautical judgment of these particular pilots. And, yes, a full investigation is needed to determine exactly what happened and why. But it’s not too early for the U.S. to monitor this event for its implications for India’s ability to oversee the safety of its airlines.
I’ve written before on my concerns about the FAA’s safety ratings of foreign countries; India in particular. What triggered my concern in 2012 were media reports that Air India pilots and those at other Indian airlines were not getting paid. Clearly, multiple major airlines not paying their pilots was a sign of their significant financial distress that should have been worrisome to India’s civil aviation regulator, known as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC). Yet, the situation had been ongoing for months and months and the airlines kept on flying with their pilots unpaid or not regularly paid. Certainly, the situation also should have been a concern for the FAA, which rates whether countries whose airlines fly into the U.S. or want to fly into the U.S. meet the standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization. (The FAA does not rate foreign airlines but their government’s ability to perform safety oversight functions under ICAO.)
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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