Airline Pilot

Clarification from the agency

You may apply if you are a current or former career/career conditional Federal employee with competitive status, VEOA eligible, or are eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority (i.e., 30% or more Compensable Veterans, VRA, reinstatement eligibles, interchange agreements, etc.).

As a Airline Pilot at the GS-2181-13 level, some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Serve as a pilot/co-pilot responsible for flying USMS owned and/or operated large (over 12,500 pounds gross weight) turbine powered, turbo-prop, and reciprocating multi-engine fixed wing aircraft.
• Support prisoner movements; special operations; patrol and reconnaissance; transport of cargoes of ammunition.
• Fly in and out of small airfields over all types of terrain under visual or instrument flight rules, during the day and night, in the Continental United States, over water, and in U.S. territories and foreign countries.
• Ensure all pre-flight, flight, and post-flight operations are conducted within the standards set by applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and in accordance with USMS flight operations policies and procedures.
• Ensure aircraft are properly maintained and reviewing and/or completing aircraft maintenance reports and aircraft logs and trip reports as required. This includes identifying any and all irregularities in those logs and taking appropriate actions to correct them.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

This vacancy announcement is scheduled to remain opened through 12/31/2026, or until all vacancies are filled. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will remain on file through December 31, 2026. First cutoff date: 11:59pm (EST) on 10/28/2026, then eligible and qualified applicants will be referred to the the selecting official as requested until vacancies are filled.

Conditions of employment

This is a bargaining unit position.

Must pass a pre-employment security investigation and drug screening.

May be required to successfully complete a trial/probationary period.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. Verify Registration here.

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

You must meet all qualification requirements when applying for this announcement.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

If selected, you may be required to sign a one-year Continued Service Agreement.

Special Requirements:

Must possess an air transport pilot (ATP) Certificate with a Multi engine-land rating; at least one heavy turbojet type rating (above 12,500 pounds and/or turbo-jet); and a current Class II FAA Medical Certificate.

Qualifications

GS-13 TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 grade level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 grade level. (Must submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. No award SF-50 will be accepted).

You may qualify at the GS-2181-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Positions in the Aircraft Operation Series (2181) are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements, and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position.

Certificates and Ratings: You must possess a current FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)certificate including Multi-Engine Land (MEL) rating AND at least one large turbo jet/turboprop type rating; or the appropriate military rating.

• If you are establishing eligibility based on civilian flight experience you must provide afront and back copy of your current FAAATP certificate with the required ratings.
• If you are establishing eligibility based on military flight experience you must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing your status as a rated military pilot.

Medical Requirements: Candidates must possess a current first or second-class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations; both meet the intent of the requirement. You must provide a copy of your certificate.

Flight Experience: You must demonstrate possession of the knowledge and skills required for the work by meeting certain minimum flight hour requirements, including recency of flight experience. Your resume and supporting documents must clearly demonstrate your flight experience in terms of minimum flight hour requirements and specific knowledge and skills related to the position.

• Minimum Flight Hour Requirements
• Total Flight Time: 1500 hours
• Pilot-In-Command: 250 hours
• Night Flying: 75 hours
• Flight Time in the Last 12 Months: 100 hours.
• Multi-Engine Airplane: 500 hours.

Specific Knowledge and Skills Related to the Position. At least one year of specific knowledge and skills related to the position equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service which includes:

• Flying large (over 12,500 pounds gross weight) turbine powered, turbo-prop, and/or reciprocating multi-engine fixed wing aircraft;
• Operating aircraft over established routes for transporting passengers, freight, and supplies;
• Ensuring pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight operations were conducted with the standards set by applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations;
• Ensuring an aircraft is properly maintained;
• Completing and submitting aircraft maintenance reports, logs, and trip reports; AND
• Performing pre-flight and post-flight inspections.

Quality Ranking Factor (QRF): A special qualification/technical competency is expected to enhance performance in this position and will be considered in the evaluation of eligibles for certification; it will not be used to screen out applicants.

• Serving as a Pilot-in-Command of B-737 within the last five years. (Your resume and supporting documents must clearly demonstrate your PIC experience).
• Possession of a Boeing or Airbus aircraft type rating.
  • If you are claiming this rating based on civilian flight experience you must provide a front and back copy of your current FAA ATP certificate with the relevant rating.
  • If you are claiming this rating based on military flight experience you must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing your status as a rated military pilot.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE CANNOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and competency review.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience and competencies. SMEs will review ONLY two pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review any additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter). Applicants who pass the structured resume review will be added to the list of qualified candidates.

Your resume must demonstrate the following competencies:

• Aircraft Maintenance: Knowledge of aircraft engines, parts, and systems, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Flight Operations: Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing Flight Operations, including monitoring resources and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.

If you are found to be among the top candidates, you may be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and incentive awards submitted with your application will be available to the selecting official for review and consideration.

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. If more than two (2) pages are submitted, only the first two (2) pages of work experience will be reviewed to determine your qualifications.

2. Air transport pilot (ATP) Certificate with a Multi engine-land rating; at least one heavy turbojet type rating (above 12,500 pounds and/or turbo-jet).

3. Current Class II FAA Medical Certificate.

4. Other supporting documents (Applicants should ensure that their personally identifiable information (PII) is protected.):

• Cover Letter, optional
• Most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service)
• Copy of most recent performance appraisal with supervisor's signature showing the official final rating of record. In cases where the performance appraisal is incomplete or unavailable, applicants may provide an explanation of the reasons (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service).
• Copy of SF-50 reflecting award received (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service).
• Veterans' Preference documentation, if claiming veterans preference
• Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
• Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)

Claiming Veterans' Preference

• If you are a veteran and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a DD214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions. For competitive service positions, active duty service members expecting to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days: you may be granted tentative preference by submitting a "certification" document in lieu of a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214. This "certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of the submission of the certification. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment. Without this documentation, you will not receive veteran's preference and your application will be evaluated based on the material(s) submitted.
• If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference based on service-connected disability, in addition to the DD214 or certification requirements (see above bullet), you must also submit an SF-15 Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally an official statement, dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability. For more information on veterans' preference and special hiring authorities click here.

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