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Aviation Safety Inspector

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Flight Standards Service, Aircraft Evaluation Division, Standards and Policy Branch, AFS-160
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This Aviation Safety Inspector position is located in the Aircraft Evaluation Division, Standards and Policy Branch, AFS-160.

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 FAA field personnel and the public governing all matters to operations safety issues.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/25/2025 to 12/15/2025
Salary
$124,531 to - $195,200 per year

Salary includes locality pay to be determined based upon 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
Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time-to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
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
AGL-AFX-25-0070-96072
Control number
850816100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent AVS and AMA-200 Line of Business employees

Duties

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FLIGHT OVERSIGHT: Flight Oversight ASIs do not conduct certification (pilot evaluating, testing, and checking) job functions as a required crewmember, including safety pilot. The incumbent will not, in any scenario, act as a required crewmember or safety pilot of an aircraft. Flight Oversight ASIs apply a broad knowledge of the aviation industry, aviation safety, and Federal aviation laws, regulations, and policies.

The incumbent provides the flight operations emphasis and crew representation in all phases of developmental work involved prior to certification and subsequent to placing such aircraft into service regarding modifications, upgrades, and operational issues.

The work of this position has considerable impact on the level of safety achieved during the training of pilots and initial industry operation of the aircraft.

Evaluates detailed flight characteristics of the aircraft in order to establish training requirements, which will be used as standards and guidelines for operations inspectors in evaluating and approving training programs.

Must develop a detailed knowledge of the aircraft's instrument and component systems to develop a sound and reasonable list of minimum instruments and equipment to be required for initial dispatch of aircraft to ensure operational safety of the aircraft.

Responsibility to provide information to aviation safety inspectors on all modification and procedural changes to the aircraft in order to attain optimum safety and efficiency in its operation. Serves as a member of the Type Certification Board, Flight Test Group and as advisor to the aircraft certification on flight operation problems involved in the certification processes of newly designed aircraft preparatory to the aircraft being type certificated and introduced into service.

Serves as a member of the Type Certification Board, Flight Test Group and as advisor to the aircraft certification on flight operation problems involved in the certification processes of newly designed aircraft preparatory to the aircraft being type certificated and introduced into service.

Provides expert consultation in support of accident or incident investigations, analysis, and implementation of corrective actions related to the particular aircraft assigned.

Responsible for developing agency-wide policies, procedures, and strategies, providing expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to agency management and other senior agents, officers, or inspectors on critical operations.

Effect of this work results in the detection and resolution of threats or challenges to the well-being of substantial numbers of people, causes changes in business practices of large important institutions, or serves as the basis
for changes in the direction of major agency initiatives or longstanding agency practices.

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

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 the 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.

Applicants not requiring valid second-class medical certificates who are tentatively selected will be required to:

1. Provide documentation from a board-certified physician certifying that they meet the minimal medical requirements; or

2. 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.

Air Carrier (Flight Oversight) Aviation Safety Inspector Qualification Requirements. In addition to meeting the basic and medical requirements, applicants must meet the following additional qualification requirements:

a. At least one year of pilot experience in multi-engine aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum
certificated takeoff weight.

b. 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 operated multiengine aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum takeoff weight.

c. Minimum 1,500 total flight hours.

d. Must hold a valid Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.

e. Not more than two flying accidents during the last five years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved.

General Aviation (Flight Oversight) Aviation Safety Inspector Qualification Requirements. In addition to meeting the basic and medical requirements, applicants must meet the following additional qualification requirements:

a. Must hold a valid or expired Flight Instructor Certificate with an aircraft category rating or have experience serving as an instructor as part of an approved program or course (e.g., Title 14 CFR Part 121, 135, 141, or 142, or Uniformed Services) which provided instruction in an aircraft or an approved flight simulation training device representing an aircraft. Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in an aircraft, an approved flight simulation training device representing an aircraft, or a combination of both.

b. Must hold a valid Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument airplane rating.

c. Three years of experience working in an organization with an air carrier, commercial operator, or air agency certificate, an organization whose work has led to the certification of individual airmen, or an organization that operated aircraft.

d. Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours.

e. Possession of airplane category and single-engine and multi-engine land (airplane) ratings.

f. Not more than two flying accidents in the last five years in which the applicant’s pilot error was involved.

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13 grade levels. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Experience includes mastery of, and skill in applying, laws and regulations to inspection, investigation, enforcement, and compliance work. Developing new techniques, legal processes, and approaches, necessitating a deep understanding of advanced principles and concepts. Developing agency-wide policies, procedures, and strategies, providing expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to agency management and other senior agents, officers, or inspectors on critical operations.

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

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

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated for Internal Announcements:

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA); Demonstrated Abilities; Leadership and Management Dimensions; or Other Factors 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.

Incomplete Applications:

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.

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

In-grade/downgrade applications will be accepted.

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.

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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