Duties
Under the general direction of the Principal Inspector (Maintenance) accomplishes the
following duties:
Technical Administration
Assures, on a continuing basis, that assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped, and include 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. Develops maintenance 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.
The Inspector is 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 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 depositions.
Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of nonroutine air
carrier surveillance.
Certification
The Inspector is responsibility for initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and agencies. Makes recommendations on the appointment of designees.
Evaluates requests to operate under conditions not previously specified in the maintenance portion of the operations specifications and approves or disapproves requests and provides 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 maintenance programs and revisions thereto. Assures that manuals and revisions comply with regulatory requirements, prescribe safe practices, and furnish clear and specific instructions governing maintenance programs. Approves operations specifications and amendments thereto.
Determines if the maintenance facilities being established or contract arrangements entered by air carriers for 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 the FARs, is compatible with the maintenance program, is properly organized and effectively conducted, and results in trained and competent personnel.
Directs or participates in proving flight evaluations to determine compliance with the FARs. Recommends changes that will be required prior to approval.
Surveillance
Directs the inspection and surveillance of the air carrier's continuous airworthiness maintenance program. Monitors all phases of the air carrier's maintenance operation, including the following: maintenance, engineering, quality control, production control, training, and reliability programs. Analyzes trends to detect a deterioration in the maintenance program.
Is responsible for monitoring the activities of air operators, air agencies, airmen, and
designees.
Other
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).
- 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.
- Position is designated as Moderate Risk; Background investigation may be required.
Qualifications
General Requirements for All 1825 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 general aviation maintenance, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements.
- Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
- Maintenance experience with aircraft 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight.
- Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state or Federal governmental agency.
- Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years.
- FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.
In addition, applicants must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I/FG-13 level. 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: Assisting, conducting, or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation and compliance recommendation of maintenance activities for FAR Part 135 air carriers/air operators.
The recency of hours is waived for current FAA employees in the 1825 series.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.
Education
Education is not qualifying and may not be substituted for experience.
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
Applicants must apply online to receive consideration. Faxed, mailed or emailed applications cannot be accepted. If you need to submit additional documents, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS. Supplemental documentation can also be faxed to 206-231-4150 on or before the closing date of this announcement. Please include 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.
The FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives 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 or Leadership and Management Dimension.
In lieu of providing a response, please include WORK HISTORY IN YOUR RESUME THAT DESCRIBES HOW YOU MEET THE ANSWER YOU CHOSE FOR EACH SECTION. Please include specific examples and details which illustrate your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Please include applicable date ranges.
Security Requirement: This position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a Moderate Risk (5) Background Investigation (Tier 2) unless waiver is obtained.
This is a bargaining unit position, represented by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (www.passnational.org).
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
Current or Former Federal employee (including a current FAA employee): You MUST submit a copy of your most recent (non-award) SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, or equivalent document that verifies tenure (block 24, code 1 or 2). Failure to provide the required documentation by the closing date of this announcement will result in non-consideration for this position.
If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your online 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 206-231-4150 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 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.