As I sit down to write this, we’re in the middle of a virtual lockdown across much of the country, some ordered by local governments and some voluntarily undertaken to avoid the spread of a new virus wreaking havoc across the globe. I hope that by the time you read this, the global pandemic that has upended lives around the world will be abating and that the actions we took individually and collectively will make a difference both in the outcomes of the pandemic and in the future of so many that will be affected by the time this is over. What I have been most struck with, aside from actions taken by state and local governments, is the way sports franchises, entertainment companies, corporations large and small, and, of course, the airlines, have voluntarily taken drastic steps to mitigate the spread of this virus. I hope this signals a new willingness in other areas to consider the public good along with self-preservation.
I’m thinking about another epidemic that has implications for pilots, especially general aviation pilots who aren’t required to hold a medical, that we could do more about collectively as an industry. And that is the use of drugs that can compromise safety when flying. I’ve just finished reading the recent NTSB report on the prevalence of drugs found in toxicology reports of flying pilots who died in aircraft accidents. The report covers fatal accidents in the United States over the five-year period from 2013 to 2017. During this time, there were 1,042 aviation accidents in which the flying pilot was fatally injured. Toxicology reports were available for 952 pilots (91 percent). Those reports found that “266 (28 percent) fatally injured pilots tested positive for at least one potentially impairing drug, 144 (15 percent) pilots tested positive for at least one drug indicating a potentially impairing condition, 94 (10 percent) pilots’ test results indicated evidence of use of at least one controlled substance, and 47 (5 percent) tested positive for an illicit drug.”
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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