Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation - Operations)

Summary

The Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), Principal Operations Inspector (POI), serves as the primary operations interface between assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, designees, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Has program responsibility to assure that assigned organizations meet Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation (14 CFR) with respect to general aviation operations programs.

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Duties

The ASI receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The ASI , mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or other work. The work is normally accepted without change. Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.

Some FG-14 assignments involve service wide responsibility for application of expert knowledge of flight operations for advanced multiengine turbojet aircraft. Such employees are concerned with all aspects of the operational capabilities and limitations of the aircraft.

Aviation Safety Inspectors at the FG-14 level establish technical procedures and performance indexes and review complete flight operations programs for leaders in the aviation industry, or organizations of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity.

The following assignments are illustrative:

• As a Service wide expert on a particular type of advanced multiengine turbojet aircraft:
• Advises other inspectors of major changes in the operation of the aircraft;
• Standardizes procedures and judgments used by inspectors to evaluate the operation of the aircraft;
• Evaluates new training methods and equipment (e.g., simulators) for initial certification;
• Serves on national boards that determine the minimum equipment necessary to operate a particular type of aircraft safely; and
• Serves on boards that evaluate incidents, accidents, complaints, and other serious problems relating to the aircraft. Develops plans to resolve problems.
• As the principal representative in regulatory oversight of general aviation and air carrier activities, exercises certificate authority over extensive and complex operations. Analyzes flight operations involving large fleets of turbojet aircraft engaged in passenger and freight service.
• Exercises certificate authority and safety responsibility over a complex of broad and varied general aviation organizations such as air carriers, executive and/or industrial operators, designees, and flight schools when the activities monitored equate collectively to a major air carrier in terms of size and complexity of aircraft fleet employed, scope and technical complexity of operations, management sophistication, industry leadership, and public impact. The magnitude, intensity, and scope of program responsibility are typically such as to require significant and regular assistance of lower graded inspectors.
  
  
  

FG-14 employees develop and evaluate flight operations programs for organizations which utilize the newest, most complex aircraft, systems, and equipment. Because of organizational complexity or technology incorporated in the aircraft, systems, and equipment, employees must exercise originality to resolve unique problems. They frequently rely on engineers and designers for specific technical guidance although much of their work is carried out under very broad policy guidelines. Supervisors give FG-14 employees a wide leeway for independent action. Other inspectors seek their advice on problems relating to aircraft and their operation. Because of the precedent-setting nature or substantial effect on the aviation industry or public safety, their decisions may be reviewed and approved at a higher policy- setting level.

Performs Other Duties As Required.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Ingrade/downgrade applications will be accepted.
• If the agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.
• This is a temporary position NTE two-years; may be terminated sooner, extended, or made permanent without further competition.
  
  
  

Qualifications

You must meet the minimum qualification requirements for an Aviation Safety Inspector in the 1825 series as outlined below:

General Requirements for All Positions:

• Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years;
• Valid State driver's license;
• Fluency in the English language;
• No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
• High school diploma or equivalent.
  
  
  

Aviation Safety Inspector positions have job-related medical requirements. When applicable, applicants must meet job-related medical requirements which will be assessed and validated during the pre-employment process. These medical requirements include:

Medical Requirements: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following requirements:

• Have good distant vision in each eye and be able to read, without strain, printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted);
• Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and
• Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft.
  
  
  

In addition, applicants for positions that require participation in the operation of the aircraft must:

• Possess a valid second – class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations; and
• Pass recurrent medical examinations as prescribed by the FAA.
  
  
  

Tentatively selected applicants not requiring valid second-class medical certificates will be required to:

• Provide documentation from a board-certified physician certifying that they meet the minimal medical requirements; or
• Individuals who do not meet the minimum medical requirements, but who are otherwise qualified will receive an individualized assessment to determine whether they can perform the essential functions of the position.
  
  
  

When the predominant work involves general aviation operations, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations) positions must meet all of the following requirements.

• Valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with single and multi-engine airplane and instrument airplane ratings. Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in an aircraft.
• Professional flying skill as demonstrated in a flight check to Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument rating;
• Possession of Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating.
• Minimum of 100 flight hours within the last 3 years.
• Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours.
• Possession of single and multi-engine land airplane ratings.
• Not more than 2 flying accidents in the last 5 years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved.
• Possession of a valid second-class FAA medical certificate.
  
  
  

In addition to meeting the minimum qualification requirements, applicants must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the FG/GS-13 level.

Specialized experience: assisting, conducting or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation and compliance recommendation of operational activities for FAR Part 135 air carriers/air operators.

For Lateral Movements Between 1825 Specialties: To assist in determining qualification requirements, applicants transferring between specialties at the same grade level are strongly encouraged to complete the appropriate Qualifications Assessment Tool (QAT) check sheet and upload it along with their resume. Check sheets are contained in Order 3410.26, Flight Standards Service Air Carrier and General Aviation Qualifications Assessment Tool for AFS Aviation Safety Inspectors. This order is located at: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/3410.26.pdf .

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

You should include relevant example of specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Recency of specialized experience is waived for current and former FAA employees in the 1825 series.

Education

Education is not qualifying and may not be substituted for this position.

Preview Job Questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.

Position may be subject to a background investigation.

A one-year probationary period may be required.

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

This is a temporary position NTE two-years; may be terminated sooner, extended, or made permanent without further competition.

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