Duties
Under the general direction of the Principal Inspector or Supervisory Principal Inspector accomplishes the following duties:
A. 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.
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 flight oversight 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 minimum equipment list (MEL) approvals with the principal inspector. Takes enforcement action in instances of noncompliance with the MEL.
Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of non-routine air carrier surveillance
B. Certification
Approves/accepts or disapproves/rejects manuals and revisions to such manuals. May require amendments to previously approved manuals to accomplish the following: correct any conflict with regulatory requirements; eliminate unsafe practices: and/or improve the specificity of instruction.
Evaluates training programs to ensure that they meet the requirements of 14 CFR. Approves or disapproves these 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.
Approves the original issuance of flight oversight specifications and issues original operating certificates. Approves amendments to flight oversight specifications. Evaluates the safety of proposed changes in route or airport authorizations; prescribes any changes required before approval.
Directs or participates in flight evaluations to determine compliance with 14 CFR. Recommends changes that will be required prior to approval.
C. Surveillance
Responsible for monitoring all phases of flight oversight including training programs and records, base and station facilities, 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.
Responsible for monitoring the activities of designated examiners, check airmen, and instructors.
Performs other duties as assigned.
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).
- Selectee will be required to report to an FAA Flight Standards Duty Location.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards:
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.
Medical Requirements for All Positions:
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.
Applicants not requiring valid second-class medical certificates who are tentatively selected 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 air carrier maintenance, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Air Carrier) positions must meet all of the following requirements.
- Aircraft experience involving the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed avionics systems on aircraft.
- Maintenance experience on aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight.
- Aircraft maintenance 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.
- Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last three years.
- FAA Mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings.
To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13 grade level as an Aviation Safety Inspector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience is:
- Monitoring activities of organizations to determine whether they are following authorized programs and evaluating proposals to change programs.
- Planning and conducting inspections and surveillance of assigned areas of carrier maintenance operations to assure compliance with Federal aviation regulations.
- Principal contact with, and having responsibility for the certification, inspection, and surveillance of the maintenance operations of a group of aviation organizations.
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.
Recency of specialized experience is waived for those currently in the 1825 series
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
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
If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your on-line application, e.g. transcripts, SF-50, or veterans' documentation, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS. Supplemental documentation can also be faxed to (718) 995-5688 on or before the closing date of this announcement. Please include your name and the vacancy announcement number on each of your faxed pages and redact all Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as social security number and date of birth.
If you are a current or former Federal employee (including a current 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 a current Federal employee and need a current copy of your SF-50, please contact your personnel office. 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 a former Federal employee, you can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by writing the National Personnel Records Center Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL 62295. Additional information is available from this link: https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/opf.
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.