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Aviation Safety Inspector

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA Academy, Regulatory Standards Division, Airworthiness Branch, AMA-250

Summary

Conducts training programs for field personnel concerning regulations, policies, procedures, specialized training on airworthiness, surveillance, and certification of aircraft, airmen and air agencies.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/16/2025 to 01/14/2026
Salary
$106,382 to - $138,296 per year

Salary shown reflects base pay only. Locality will be determined upon selection.

Pay scale & grade
FG 14
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
FAA Nationwide-Selectee Remains in Current Duty Location
Few vacancies
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 PAACE: Consolidated.
Announcement number
AAC-AFN-26-AMA250-96665
Control number
852481700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current, permanent FAA employees.

Duties

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1. Develops and conducts courses of indoctrination for newly hired Flight Standards Safety Inspectors (Airworthiness/Avionics). Presents an intensive study of each job function required to perform as an Airworthiness, Aviation Safety Inspector in a Flight Standards District Office or Certificate Management Office. All functions incorporated in this position description will be accomplished while working as an effective, cooperative member of the
Airworthiness training team.

2. Develops and conducts advanced courses for flight standards inspectors, aerospace engineers, electrical/electronic engineers, and specialists. Such courses include Safety Management Systems (SMS), Safety Assurance Systems (SAS), regulations, policies, and procedures for certification, surveillance, and enforcement duties as related to air
carrier/air operator operations, aircraft modifications, executive turbine aircraft, turbine power-plants, and management systems.

3. Develops and conducts lessons in regulations, policies, and procedures for evaluation of management at repair stations, mechanic schools, and air carrier/operator operations.

4. Develops and writes course test materials based on research analysis, evaluation of new developments, and changing trends of technology in the aviation industry. Maintains current knowledge of FAA regulations, policies, and procedures.

5. Analyzes exams, course critiques, and lab projects for applicability and adherence to lesson plans. Conducts course text material reviews for possible revisions. Revises course test material based on analysis.

6. Conducts activities as required to provide revisions to existing courses. Continually stays aware of coming changes through coordination with FAA Headquarters, regions, the airline industry, and associated groups.

7. Serves as course manager with all duties and responsibilities required to conduct the course, i.e., student evaluation, course evaluation, and scheduling.

8. Acts as subject matter expert to the FAA Headquarters on various projects.

9. Provides assistance and consultant services to regional airworthiness specialists and principal airworthiness inspectors in evaluating operations and maintenance programs.

10. Provides support to the management team in the preparation and administration of the budget; coordination of staff training and travel administration; program management and planning; workload scheduling; space utilization, resource management; security; property management - accountable items; reports and records as required.

11. The employee will coordinate the use of resources, such as rooms and supplies; work schedules; T&A’s, travel orders, suspense’s; and budge inputs for the most effective functions of the team.

12. Applies experience and expert knowledge that are applicable to his or her discipline to conduct functional activities for projects/programs that often require the development of new and innovative approaches to training. Identifies and resolved challenging programs or issues that often affect various organizational functions/activities. May work with a
principal specialist to develop new and innovative approaches, methodologies, and/or techniques.

13. The instructor has responsibility which requires highly specialized training, significant managerial skills, specific technical qualifications, and detailed proficiency equal to the highest nonsupervisory grade level in the field that significantly represents the occupational workforce. Possess a high degree of human relations and\communications
skills which enable the individual to function as an agency role model for both new and current FAA employees. Possesses the skills to be able to understand and convert procedural requirements into overall function design to provide reliable and accurate course development and instruction. Maintains technical knowledge and currency equivalent to that of the highest-level full performance specialist.

May perform other duties as assigned.

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).
  • Copy of FAA Mechanic Certificate with Airframe & Powerplant Rating required (if applicable)
  • Successful completion of a security investigation may be required.
  • Please review Required Documents & Additional Information.

Qualifications

Minimum Eligibility Requirements For All Positions:

Basic 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:

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:

  1. Have 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;
  2. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted);
  3. Not have any physical conditions that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others or that would interfere with their ability to operate/occupy a flight deck observer's seat (jumpseat) or a cabin passenger seat in a variety of aircraft.

Specialized Experience, Training, And Certification Requirements For Specific Positions

Applicants must meet the specific requirements described below for the following types of Aviation Safety Inspector positions:

When the predominant work involves air carrier avionics, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements.

  1. Aircraft avionics experience involving the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed avionics systems on aircraft.
  2. Avionics maintenance experience on aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight.
  3. Aircraft avionics work experience (which could include supervision or auditing) in a repair station; air carrier repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency within the last 3 years.

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

  1. Aircraft avionics experience involving the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed avionics systems on aircraft.
  2. Aircraft avionics work experience (which could include supervision or auditing) in a repair station; air carrier repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency within the last 3 years.

When the predominant work involves air carrier 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 systems of multi-engine aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight maintained under an airworthiness maintenance and inspection program.
  2. Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency.
  3. Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
  4. Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years.
  5. FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.

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.

NOTE: Recency of specialized experience requirements is waived for current and former FAA employees in the 1825 series (this covers internal placement actions including promotions, reassignments, voluntary changes to lower grades, transfers or reinstatements to same or lower grade that currently or previously held).

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 FG/GS-13 level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Specialized experience includes: Experience providing Flight Standards organizations and industry with authoritative expert technical guidance and operational control, ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.


Education

KSA Information:

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), Demonstrated Abilities and 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.

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

Notes:
  1. Position(s) may be realigned based on approved reorganization.
  2. Applicants must apply online to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed, or emailed applications cannot be accepted. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.
  3. Candidates MUST submit copies of all certificates and licenses with application. If the back side of the license contains the ratings, be sure to copy both sides.
  4. Some, all or none of the applicants may be interviewed.
  5. Recency of requirements will be waived for current FAA employees in the 1825 series.
  6. To confirm receipt of documents, please contact Sidney Heifetz at Sidney.R.Heifetz@faa.gov.

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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