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Airport Certification and Safety Inspector

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Great Lakes Region, Office of Airports, Safety & Standards Branch, AGL-620

Summary

This position applies experience and advanced knowledge serving as an Airport Certification Safety Inspector (ACSI) responsible for 14 CFR Part 139 compliance for the Office of Airports (ARP), Great-Lakes Region.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/11/2026 to 02/24/2026
Salary
$101,222 to - $156,879 per year

Salary includes locality payment of 30.86%.

Pay scale & grade
FV I
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Des Plaines, IL
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - The job may require up to 75% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
NA
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is represented by NATCA: Regional ARP Except AEA.
Announcement number
AGL-ARP-26-0003-97194
Control number
857097800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Also open to former permanent excepted service federal employees eligible under an interchange agreement. Current or former permanent federal employees must have met a one-year probationary period or trial period in the competitive or excepted service. Applications will also be accepted from preference eligibles and veterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least 3 years of continuous active-duty service.

Duties

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Performs multiple, varying and complex assignments as an Airport Certification Safety Inspector (ACSI) under the limited direction of the manager. Applies experience and comprehensible technical knowledge as he/she conducts periodic and surveillance inspections at Part 139 certified airports including medium and large hub airports to ensure compliance with standards for 14 CFR Part 139 in the areas of records, personnel, paved areas, unpaved areas, safety areas, marking signs, and lighting, snow and ice control , aircraft rescue and firefighting, handling and storing of hazardous substances and materials, traffic and wind direction indicators, airport emergency plan, self – inspections program, pedestrians and ground vehicles, obstructions, protection of NAVAIDS, public protection, wildlife hazard management, airport condition reporting, and identifying, marking and lighting construction and other unserviceable areas.

Reviews and recommends approval Airport Certification Manuals and emergency plans required by regulation to ensure current and adequate airport operating procedures.

Recommends approval or denial of applications for Airport Operating Certificates.

Investigates known or alleged violations of the regulations in accordance with current agency directives.

Reviews and evaluates petitions from airport owners for exemptions from any or all of 14 CFR Part 139 requirements.

Conducts investigation of vehicle /pedestrian deviations at airports and evaluates results for closure or enforcement (administrative or legal).

Conducts reviews of Construction Safety Phasing Plans to conducts inspections of airports to ensure operational safety during construction meets standards.

Reviews and recommends wildlife hazard assessments and wildlife hazard management plans at Part 139 airports and works closely with the airports, wildlife biologists, other technical experts and stakeholders to reduce hazardous wildlife and attractants on and in the vicinity of airports.

Investigates potential regulatory violations and initiates administrative or legal enforcements actions, as appropriate. Coordinates recommendations with the Lead Inspector and management as to sanctions, including civil penalties, certificate suspension or revocation.

Supports investigations of an aircraft or incident on or near an airport.
May be called up to serve as a member of an Accident Investigation Board.

Works in collaboration with division staff and other FAA organizations to improve surface safety at airports by reviewing or investigating the factors leading to surface incidents, runway incursions, and aircraft excursions.

Collaborate with Regional and Local Runway Safety Action Teams by providing 14 CFR Part 139 expertise and assisting in the development of airport runway safety action plans.

Conducts Runway Safety Area Inventories, which may include physical inspection of a safety area to determine what is installed and if it meets agency standards.

Reviews individual airport layout plans, obstruction charts, safety equipment descriptions, construction drawings and documents related to certification requirements.

Work Environment: This position may require the inspector to drive significant distances (100-300 miles) and requires the inspector to walk considerable distance to inspect airfield pavement, safety areas, lighting, markings, signage, and fueling system. Frequently this requires working around the hazards of moving aircraft (taxiing, landing, and takeoff) and ground vehicles. The inspector may also be required to lift and/or carry objects of about 20 to 50 pounds, as well as climb ladders and/or work in in unusual environmental/weather conditions.

Physical Requirement: Candidates must successfully complete a Basic Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Training Course which places the candidate in a strenuous physical heat-controlled environment with fire protection suits and self-contained breathing apparatus that could be heavy and awkward.

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).
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • Valid State Driver's license is required.
  • This position requires frequent travel.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the FV-I level, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H/FG/GS-12 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Specialized experience includes:

  • Experience with conducting inspections at CFR Part 139 certificated airports to ensure operational safety and/or compliance with FAA standards and regulations;
  • Experience in developing or reviewing Airport Certification Manuals and emergency plans required by regulation to ensure current and adequate airport operating procedures;
  • Experience with reviewing and verifying individual airport layout plans, obstruction charts, safety equipment descriptions, construction drawings and documents related to certification requirements; and
  • Experience in conducting reviews of wildlife hazard assessments and approvals of wildlife hazard management plans.

For additional information on qualification requirements, please visit the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.

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

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.

Education

Education may not be substituted for experience.

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

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

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 priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

The position is not a remote position.

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

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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