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Aviation Safety Inspector (Air Carrier-Operations) Flight Program - Principal Operations Inspector

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
AVS, Flight Standards Service, Midwest Certificate Management Office (CMO), AFC410
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The incumbent of this position is assigned to the Flight Standards Service. The incumbent is responsible for applying expert knowledge of and experience with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, and procedures for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) field personnel and the public governing all matters to air carrier operations safety issues.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/28/2025 to 06/18/2025
Salary
$106,382 to - $138,296 per year

The salary range above is basic pay. Locality rate will be added based on location.

Pay scale & grade
FG 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
FAA Flight Standards Duty Locations Nationwide
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 2 YEARS
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services.
Announcement number
AEA-FS-25-CCD-95276
Control number
837629800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

FAA-Wide; Open to current permanent FAA employees

Duties

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The Principal Operations Inspector (POI) receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The POI, mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or other work. The POI provides policy assistance to divisional field level ASIs on difficult or complex policy inquiries. The work is normally accepted without change. Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.

Some FG-14 assignments involve office, and/or division responsibility for application of expert knowledge of flight operations for an advanced multiengine turboprop and/or turbojet aircraft. Such employees are concerned with all aspects of the operational capabilities and limitations of the aircraft. ASIs at the FG-14 level establish technical procedures and performance indexes and review complete flight operation or maintenance programs for major air carriers who are leaders in the aviation industry, or who have problems of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity and the organizations monitored are major factors in the industry.

The following assignments are illustrative:
1. As an expert on a particular type of sophisticated multiengine turbojet aircraft:
-- Advises other inspectors of major changes in the operation of the aircraft;
-- Standardizes procedures and judgments used by inspectors to evaluate the operation of the aircraft;

--Evaluates new training methods and equipment (e.g., simulators) for initial certification;
-- Serves on national boards that determine the minimum equipment necessary to operate a particular
type of aircraft safely; and

-- Serves on boards that evaluate incidents, accidents, complaints, and other serious problems
relating to the aircraft. Develops plans to resolve problems.


2. As the principal representative in regulatory surveillance of air carrier activities, exercises certificate authority over a major air carrier with very extensive and complex operations. Analyzes flight operations involving large fleets of turbojet aircraft engaged in large-scale passenger and freight service. This level includes responsibility for nationally and internationally prominent carriers who operate the largest, most advanced fleets of turbojet aircraft in the industry. (By comparison, FG-13 employees exercise certificate authority over less complex air carriers or
perform major portions of the certification, inspection, and surveillance for major carriers under the direction of FG-14 inspectors.)

Requirements

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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).

Qualifications

Medical Requirements: Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, and must meet all of the following requirements:

A. Have a good distant vision in each eye and be able to read printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted) without strain;

B. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted);

C. Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others or that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft.

Applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector, (Flight Oversight) positions must meet all of the following requirements.

  1. At least 1 year of pilot experience in multi-engine aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight.
  2. Not more than 2 flying accidents during the last 5 years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved.
  3. Three years of experience working in an organization with an air carrier, commercial operator, or air agency certificate, an organization whose work led to the certification of individual airmen, or an organization that operated aircraft. At least one year of this experience must be with an organization that also operated multi-engine aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight..
  4. Airline Transport Pilot Certificate
  5. Minimum 1,500 total flight hours.

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

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, applicants for the FG-14 level must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next to lower grade level in the normal line of progression (FG-13 or Pay Band I), as an Aviation Safety Inspector. Specialized experience is: Experience interpreting and applying regulations, policies and procedures related to certification and clarification of air carrier aviation and commercial operations (14 CFR Part 121). Monitoring activities of organizations to determine whether they are following their authorized program, Federal regulations, and good safety practices. Executing assignments that primarily require knowledge of flight operation of air carrier aircraft. Work that involves monitoring and issuing certificates to a large complex aviation organization or several smaller organizations that, in total, are comparable in complexity to one large aviation organization.

For more information regarding the minimum eligibility requirements for Aviation Safety Inspector's please visit the following website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs1800/1825.htm

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

Duty Location: Selectee will be required to report to an FAA Flight Standards Facility Duty Location where employee is selected from. Position is telework eligible in accordance with Agency Policy.

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 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.

You must apply outline to receive consideration for this position. Faxed or emailed applications/resumes will not be accepted.

Work history must state job titles including specialty, series and grade level held. No references will be make from your Personnel Files, so information must be current and up to date.

Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.

All or none of the applicants may be interviewed.

Ingrade/Downgrade applications will be accepted.

Temporary Positions: This is a temporary position not-to-exceed two year; it may be extended, terminated or may become permanent without further competition.

Upon completion of this assignment, the selected employee shall return to his/her original permanent position or an equivalent position in the same commuting area.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.

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