Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft-Helicopter)

Summary

The Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft/Helicopter) performs the full range of General Aviation certification, surveillance and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees. The Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) has program responsibility to assure assigned organizations meet Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) with respect to operations programs and in the establishment of work programs for inspection and surveillance.

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Duties

Ii. Duties And Responsibilities

Technical Administration

Assures on a continuing basis that assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped; have and conduct an adequate training program, including an acceptable record keeping system; and have facilities and procedures that meet all regulatory requirements. Chairs joint FAA-industry meetings; maintains regular contact with organizations assigned; and coordinates with top management officials.

Requires or directs correction of any deficiencies/discrepancies and refuses or withdraws approval

if they cannot be resolved.

Responsible for the conduct of enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition. Performs or supervises the emergency suspension of certificates or cancellations of rotorcraft-helicopter operations specifications. Conducts or directs the reexamination of certificated airmen or recertification of an operator or agency.

Conducts investigations of public complaints, congressional inquiries, and rotorcraft-helicopter aircraft incidents and accidents.

Provides verbal and/or written technical assistance to legal counsel, testifies at court trials and formal hearings, and gives depositions.

Coordinates Minimum Equipment List (MEL) approvals with the principal airworthiness inspectors. Takes enforcement action in instances of noncompliance with the MEL.

Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of non-routine air carrier and air operator surveillance.

Certification

Approves/accepts or disapproves/rejects manuals, school curriculum, and revisions to such. May require amendments to previously approved documents to accomplish the following: correct any conflict with regulatory requirements; eliminate unsafe practices; and/or improve the specificity of instruction.

Evaluates training programs and procedures manuals to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

Approves or disapproves training programs including flight simulators, training devices, or other such equipment used in these programs.

Approves/disapproves designation of check airmen and makes recommendations on the appointment of designees.

Evaluates operations and facilities by on-site inspections and review of reports by geographic inspectors or others. Negotiates changes essential or desirable in their policies and procedures. Determines the appropriate methods and/or plans for securing corrective action and determines through on-site inspection or inspector reports the effectiveness of any action.

Evaluates and approves/disapproves requests to operate under conditions not previously authorized and may prescribe additional conditions and limitations as appropriate.

Evaluates Helicopter Air Ambulance Operators to determine compliance with 14 CFR.

Approves the original issuance of operations specifications and issues original operating certificates. Approves amendments to operations specifications. Evaluates the safety of proposed changes in route or airport authorizations; prescribes any changes required before approval.

Directs or participates in proving flight evaluations to determine compliance with 14 CFR.

Recommends changes that will be required prior to approval.

Surveillance

Monitors all phases of operations including training programs and records; base and station facilities; rotorcraft/helicopter external load operations; air tour operations; Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) operations; and route systems. Coordinates with and reviews reports from geographic inspectors and others to identify trends which indicate deterioration in the safety of operations. Directs or suggests changes required to correct such trends.

Monitors the activities of designated examiners, check airmen and instructors.

Flight Program

Evaluates tasks contained in the FAA practical test standards and airman certification standards by participating as

pilot in command or as a crewmember.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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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.
• Security Requirement: Moderate Risk (5). This position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. (Subject to a five-year period of reinvestigation).
• In-grade/downgrade applications will be accepted.
  
  
  

Qualifications

OPM Qualifications Standard for Aviation Safety Series, FG-1825 Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

• 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
  
  
  

Medical Requirements for Rotorcraft-Helicopter: 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 aircraft must:

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

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must meet the specialized experience requirements as outlined below:

• Minimum 100 flight hours in Rotorcraft-Helicopter in the last three years;
• Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating with Instrument, or Airline Transport Pilot with Helicopter Rating;
• Flight Instructor Certificate Rotorcraft Helicopter, Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter rating;
• 1,200 hours of total time requirements (1,000 in actual flight conditions, 250 hours of night flight in which 15 are in a helicopter);
• 250 hours of flight time in helicopters, which includes at least 75 hours as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination thereof;
• 500 hours of cross-country flight time;
• 75 hours of instrument flight time in actual or simulated instrument meteorological conditions, of which at least 50 hours are obtained in flight with at least 25 hours in helicopters as pilot in command or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination.
  
  
  

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

Certificates and Ratings:

This position requires a certificate and ratings for minimum qualification in the following specialty: General Aviation Operations Rotorcraft-Helicopter; a copy of certificate and ratings are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 1825 specialty of General Aviation Operations Rotorcraft-Helicopter.

Certificate and ratings must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held this position with the FAA.

Certificate and ratings are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying (or previously held) General Aviation Operations Rotorcraft-Helicopter 1825 series position.

Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H, FG/GS-12 for this position in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: Experience investigating the safety and compliance of rotorcraft-helicopter operations; providing technical guidance on rotorcraft-helicopter policies, procedures and regulations; and reviewing and evaluating training and certification programs. Additional experience may be in reporting on accidents, incidents, and violations.

FOR OPERATIONS:

• Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating w/Instrument Rating or Airline Transport Pilot w/Helicopter Rating; And 2. Flight Instructor Certificate Rotorcraft Helicopter, Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter Rating. 3. A valid second class Medical Certificate is required for this position.
  
  
  

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

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 Leadership and Management Dimensions listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

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.

For Lateral Movements Between 1825 Specialties: 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

Interviews: If the agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.

Security Requirements: Moderate Risk (5): This position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a National Agency Check with Inquiry (NACI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained

Transition Check Ride: Successful completion of a Transition Check Ride may be required for this position.

Salary: Salary iscovered by the PASS/AVS Bargaining Contract.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your application/resume MUST have your official title, grade and series on your work history.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.