Clarification from the agency

Public Announcement for Individuals With Disabilities and Individuals with Targeted Disabilities

This is a public announcement to apply to a FAA position open to Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and Persons with Targeted Disabilities (PWTD). Individuals seeking to apply to this job opportunity should visit the following site for additional information about the PWD/PWTD eligibility criteria: https://employees.faa.gov/org/staffoffices/ahr/program_policies/policy_guidance/hr_policies/hrpm/emp/emp_sup/emp-1-26h/

• This is a developmental Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) position responsible for providing preflight briefings and inflight assistance to pilots, requiring knowledge of the information needed to conduct safe flights. Developmental controllers receive a wide range of training in FSS processes as well as weather, communication, navigational and other equipment. As an ATCS, you will receive pay increases as you successfully complete the progressive phases (benchmarks) of controller training at your assigned facility.

• Prior experience or training in air traffic control is not required. If a candidate applies for and is selected under this temporary trainee announcement, all of the employment conditions associated with this AT-AQ position will apply.

• As a new ATCS, you will spend your first several weeks of employment in an intensive training program. While attending academy training, you will be on a temporary appointment. Academy students receive basic air traffic control training through the FAA Academy in a virtual environment, which includes complete occupational indoctrination including highlights of Federal employment and basic air traffic training in both a classroom and laboratory environment.

• Upon successful completion of the FAA Air Traffic Basics Course, continued training will be held at the FAA Alaska Flight Service Station Academy (AFSTA) in Kenai, AK. While attending academy training, you will remain on a temporary appointment. Academy students will receive basic air traffic control training that includes familiarization with the FSS organizational structure and functions, and basic air traffic training in both a classroom and laboratory environment that simulates actual FSS job functions.

• Individuals who do not successfully complete training at the FAA Academy, AFSTA and all other necessary requirements will have their employment terminated.

• Prior failure of FAA Academy or AFSTA training or prior declination of permanent facility placement offer after completing Academy training may constitute a basis for non-selection and/or veterans' preference pass over.

• ATCS's will be paid long-term expense rate (per diem) while attending the AFSTA in Kenai, AK, to help offset daily cost of living expenses.

• Upon successful completion of the AFSTA initial training program & other employment requirements, newly hired ATCS's will be offered a permanent appointment at an FAA FSS facility with a basic salary of $60,414, which includes 31.96% locality pay. A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be based on facility assignment and is subject to change. Applicants with prior ATC experience will have their salary set in accordance with the ATCS Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Position sensitivity is Moderate Risk; may be required to complete a background investigation.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• All applicants must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) Exam

Qualifications

ALL CANDIDATES MUST MEET ONE OF THE 5 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION. ADDITIONAL POOL ELIGIBILITIES ARE REQUIRED BASED ON SPECIFIC POOL ELECTION. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND CONTACT THE ALASKA HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE PRIOR TO ANNOUNCEMENT CLOSE DATE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

You may qualify in 1 of the following 5 ways:

• TO QUALIFY BASED ON PROGRESSIVELY RESPONSIBLE WORK EXPERIENCE: applicants must document 3 years of full time (40 hours per week) progressively responsible experience. Most types of paid or unpaid employment will provide progressively responsible experience as the individual doing the work learns about the organization, gains knowledge about the work, and demonstrates responsibility. OR
• TO QUALIFY BASED UPON EDUCATION: applicants must document a full 4-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If qualifying based on education, applicants must submit a copy of the transcript which includes the name of the institution, quarter or semester hours earned and/or confer date. (CTI to be eligible for Pool 1, the transcript must reflect the confer date and you must also provide appropriate CTI recommendation) OR
• TO QUALIFY BASED UPON THE COMBINATION OF BOTH WORK EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: The applicant's total qualifying experience is converted to a percentage of the experience required then the applicant's education is converted to a percentage of the education required. The combined percentages must equal 100%. At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school. OR
• TO QUALIFY BASED ON SPECIALIZED WORK EXPERIENCE AS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALIST: applicants qualifying based on specialized experience must provide supporting documentation that verifies this requirement has been met (e.g., FAA certificate, military certificate or training record). OR
• TO QUALIFY BASED ON ALTERNATIVE REQUIREMENTS: applicants must provide supporting documentation that verifies at least one of the following alternative requirements being met: a. Do you hold or have held an appropriate facility rating and have actively controlled air traffic in civilian or military air traffic control terminals or centers? b. Do you hold or have held an FAA certificate as a dispatcher for an air carrier? c. Do you hold or have held an instrument flight rating? d. Do you hold or have held an FAA certificate as a navigator or have been fully qualified as a Navigator/Bombardier in the Armed Forces? e. Do you have 350 hours of flight time as a copilot or higher and hold or have held a private certificate or equivalent Armed Forces rating? f. Have you served as a rated Aerospace Defense Command Intercept Director?
• Successful candidates must be able to speak English clearly enough to be understood over radios, intercoms, and similar communications equipment.

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.