Duties
Under the general direction of the Principal Inspector (Avionics) or Supervisory Principal Inspector (Avionics) accomplishes the following duties:
Technical Administration
On a continuing basis, ensures assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed and equipped; establishes and conducts adequate training programs; maintains record keeping systems; and facilities and ensures procedures meet all regulatory requirements. Chairs joint Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and 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.
Develops avionics program requirements through participation on maintenance review boards. Coordinates minimum equipment list (MEL) approvals with the principal operations inspector. Takes enforcement action in instances of noncompliance with the MEL. Responsible for conducting enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition. Performs or supervises the emergency suspension of certificates or cancellation of 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 aircraft incidents and accidents. Provides verbal and/or written technical assistance to legal counsel, testifies at court trials and formal hearings, and gives dispositions. Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of non-routine air carrier surveillance.
Assists Principal Inspector in the planning and implementation of certificate holders surveillance via usage of the appropriate safety system.
Certification
Responsible for initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and air agencies. Makes recommendations on the appointment of designees. Evaluates requests to operate under conditions not previously specified in the airworthiness portion of the operations specifications and approves/disapproves requests providing additional conditions and limitations as needed. Provides guidance to the assigned air carrier in the development of required maintenance manuals and record keeping systems. Reviews and determines adequacy of manuals associated with the air carrier’s airworthiness programs and revisions. Ensures manuals and revisions comply with regulatory requirements, prescribe safe practices, and furnish clear and specific instructions governing airworthiness programs. Approves operations specifications and amendments. Determines if the maintenance facilities being established or contract arrangements entered into by air carrier for the purpose of overhaul work, major repairs, alterations, and other maintenance are satisfactory. Reviews changes and negotiates with air carrier management to resolve problems.
Determines if overhaul and inspection time limitations warrant revision. Evaluates an operator’s proposed reliability programs for compliance with national policies. Advises operator of deficiencies and required changes. Approves/disapproves reliability programs. Determines if the air carrier’s training program meets the requirements of 14 CFR, is compatible with the airworthiness program, is properly organized and effectively conducted, and results in trained and competent personnel.
Surveillance
Directs the inspection and surveillance of the air carrier’s continuous airworthiness program. Monitors all phases of the air carrier’s airworthiness operation, including the maintenance, engineering, quality control, production control, training, and reliability programs. Analyzes trends to detect deterioration in the airworthiness program. Responsible for monitoring the activities of air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees.
Performs other duties as required.
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).
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirements for an Aviation Safety Inspector in the 1825 series for the Air Carrier Aviation Operations specialty in accordance with the OPM qualification standards located at the following web address: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs1800/1825.htm
General Requirements for All Positions:
1. Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years;
2. Valid State driver's license;
3. Fluency in the English language;
4. No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
5. High school diploma or equivalent.
Medical Requirements: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, and must meet all of the following requirements:
1. Have a good distant vision in each eye and be able to read printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted) without strain;
2. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted);
3. Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others or 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:
1. Possess a valid second-class medical certificate in accordance with Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) regulations; and
2. Pass recurrent medical examinations as prescribed by the FAA.
When the predominant work involves air carrier avionics, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements.
- Aircraft avionics experience involving the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed avionics systems on aircraft.
- Avionics maintenance experience on aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight.
- Aircraft avionics work experience (which could include supervision or auditing) in a repair station; air carrier repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency within the last 3 years.
Recency of specialized experience (Aircraft avionics work experience within the last 3 years) is waived for current FAA employees in the 1825 series.
In addition, applicants must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I/FG-13. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience may include: Assisting, conducting or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation and enforcement activities of FAR Part 121 air carriers/air operators.
Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
In-grade/downgrade applications will be accepted.
All or none of the candidates may be interviewed.
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.
The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements
Selectee will be required to report to an FAA Flight Standards Duty Location which may be discussed at selection. This is not a remote position; position is telework eligible in accordance with Agency Policy.
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 may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA); 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.
You must apply outline to receive consideration for this position. Faxed or emailed applications/resumes will not be accepted.
Work history must state job titles including specialty, series and grade level held. No references will be make from your Personnel Files, so information must be current and up to date.
Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.
Ingrade/Downgrade applications will be accepted.
Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
Required Documents
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If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.
If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.