We’ve all been reading about future pilot and mechanic shortages for a long time. While some people believe that the predictions are hyped by labor unions looking to pay their members higher salaries, others believe that the predictions aren’t dire enough and don’t fully capture the current hiring situation. I have been concerned about both the forecast shortages and the current ability of many aviation entities to recruit qualified candidates for pilot and maintenance technician openings. I have reviewed applicants for openings at a number of different entities—both airline and corporate—and have concerns about the dearth of applicants, even for well-paying jobs, and the caliber of some of those applications. That's especially true at smaller aviation entities away from aviation centers.
But have these shortages reached a critical point where warning bells should be ringing? Some recent news reports should raise alarm in the industry and prompt much more action to accelerate the pipelines for these jobs.
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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