Aviation Safety Inspector

Summary

The Principal Inspector (Maintenance) General Aviation/Part 135 functions as the primary airworthiness interface between assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, designees and the Federal Aviation Administration. Has program responsibility to assure that assigned organizations meet Federal Aviation Regulations with respect to maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations programs.

Duties

Determines the need for, and then establishes work programs for surveillance and inspection of assigned organizations within manpower and budget limitations to assure adherence to the applicable regulations.

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.

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.

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 non-routine air carrier surveillance.

Has responsibility 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 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 into by air carriers 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.

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 reports submitted by the air carrier to insure compliance with the maintenance program and assures the air carrier has an effective continuing analysis and surveillance program to meet the requirements of the FARs.

May be assigned other duties and responsibilities which are non-grade controlling.

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)
• In-grade/Downgrade Applications will be accepted.

Qualifications

OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards for Aviation Safety Series, 1825

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 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:

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 Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) regulations; and
2. Pass recurrent medical examinations as prescribed by the FAA.

When the predominant work involves general aviation maintenance, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements.

1. Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
2. Maintenance experience with aircraft 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight.
3. Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state or Federal governmental agency.
4. Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years.
5. FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.

Certificate and Ratings:

This position requires a certificate and ratings for minimum qualification in the following specialties:

A copy of the certificate and ratings are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 1825 specialty. Therefore, applicants must submit a copy of their certificate and ratings unless they are currently occupying (or previously held) General Aviation (Maintenance) 1825 Series Position.

For Maintenance: FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.

Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H, FG/GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to, experience assisting, conducting, or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement activities. Additional experience may be in investigating and reporting on accidents, incidents, and violations.

Note: Recency of specialized experience is waived for current and former FAA employees in the 1825 series.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability (KSAs): 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 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.

Education

Not Applicable.

Preview Job Questionnaire
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/working_here/financial_disclosure_requirements

The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

For Movements Between 1825 Specialties: 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

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 5 year period reinvestigation.

Interview Statement: If the agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.

Salary: Salary iscovered by the PASS/AVS Bargaining Contract.

Incomplete applications: Errors or omissions may result in you not being considered for the job.

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

Benefits

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.

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.

Benefits

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

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

In additional to the online resume, All Employees must provide a copy of most recent SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action 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. Sf-50s sent via email will NOT be considered.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.

Supplemental documentation can also be faxed to (817) 222-5852 on or before the closing date of this announcement. Please include your name and the vacancy announcement number on each of your faxed pages. We cannot guarantee timely receipt or assume responsibility for the quality or legibility of any faxed documents. Regardless of the method of delivery, all supporting documentation MUST be received in the servicing Human Resources Office prior to the closing date of the announcement.

Certificates and Ratings: FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.

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.

How to Apply

You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION.

We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes.

Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:

• Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)
• Duties (be specific in describing your duties)
• Employer's name and address
• Supervisor name and phone number
• Start and end dates including month and year (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Salary

Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.

You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Please see this guide, Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.

Amendment Date: 06/26/2023

Amendment Note: This announcement has been extended.

Agency contact information

Joanna Rodriguez

Phone

1 (817) 222-5850

Fax

1 (817) 222-5852

Email

joanna.f.rodriguez@faa.gov

Address

Federal Aviation Administration
ASW Regional HR Services Division
10101 Hillwood Parkway
AHF-S410
Fort Worth, TX 76177
US

Next steps

Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide.

Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request. Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.