Clarification from the agency

Open to Current Permanent AVS Wide and AMA-200 Employees

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.

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:

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 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:

1. 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);
2. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and
3. 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:

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

In addition to meeting the basic and medical requirements, applicants must meet the following specialized experience requirements:

1. Must hold an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating or a Commercial Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating and Instrument-Helicopter rating.
2. Must hold a valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating and Instrument Helicopter rating.
3. Minimum 1,500 total flight hours in an aircraft as pilot-in-command or second-in-command, 1,000 hours of which must be in helicopters.
4. Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in a helicopter.
5. Minimum 100 flight hours in helicopters as pilot-in-command or second-in-command or 100 hours as pilot in a Level D Simulator that replicates a helicopter, or any combination thereof, during the last five (5) years.
6. Not more than two (2) flying accidents in the last five (5) years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved.

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

All FAA employees MUST submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50). See further details below. Applicants must submit a copy of their certificates and ratings unless they are currently occupying (or previously held) the Position. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: 1. Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating with Instrument Rating or Airline Transport Pilot with Helicopter Rating, And 2. Flight Instructor Certificate Rotorcraft Helicopter, Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter Rating; AND 3. Valid second-class FAA Medical Certificate for Lateral Transition between 1825 Specialties. Please upload documents with your online application or fax to 718-995-5688.

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/.

Next steps