Skip to main content
U.S. flag
 

Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft Flight Oversight)

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Flight Standards Service, Safety Management, Analytics and Systems Integration Division, AFS-900

Summary

This Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation Rotorcraft Flight Oversight) in the Safety Management, Analytics and Systems Division, AFS-900. 

Utilizes expert knowledge of general aviation operations to provide technical direction and oversight to a team functioning as national technical experts in nationwide programs regarding certification, evaluation, surveillance, safety management systems and other innovations involving the aviation industry.

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Posted yesterday · Apply by 07/01/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 1, 2026
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$125,776 - $197,200 per year

Salary includes locality pay to be determined based upon location

Pay scale & grade
FG 14
Promotion potential
NA
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
50% or less - The job may require up to 50% travel.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
Yes - This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services.
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Announcement number
AGL-AFX-26-0044-98854
Control number
872553200

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

Help

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.

Provides expert advice and guidance in the formulation, development and conduct of highly complex, controversial, and significant studies and projects at the national level. Provides recommendations involving the planning, conduct gathering of requirements, and development of business model approaches including automation and tools to support the project and identification of risk areas/concerns. Works with teams of multiple disciplines that are involved in developing and implementing new business processes, automation, policy changes, and procedures, including program improvement designs for Flight Standards products with a specific focus and expertise in general aviation operations. Utilizes appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques to determine integration, work methods, practices, and procedures for Flight Standards products.

Plans and conducts periodic in-depth evaluations and focused inspections involving the aviation and Air Transportation industry; evaluates Inspector Resources for the oversight of operators with high-risk profiles.

Provides technical support and conducts research for internal stakeholders related to a variety of issues. Reviews Safety Assurance office requests to ensure all safety critical information is received from external stakeholders. Provides education, resources and support when Safety Assurance offices are resource constrained.

Responsible for reviewing and evaluating, on a continuing basis, established rules and regulations related to assigned technical programs to ensure they have kept pace with the needs to which they were directed and that they are still reasonable, necessary, and adequate. Evaluates regulatory petitions or proposals from within or outside the agency, and recommends the development of new or amended rules, regulations, or other regulatory material, and the discontinuance of rules and regulations no longer considered necessary.

Responsible for the preparation of Federal Register notices regarding assigned technical programs for original petitions for exemptions and analysis of technical input from other employees within Flight Standards. Coordinates with other Aviation Safety and Flight Standards Organization to develop a complete analysis and appropriate response. 

Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of division policy in assigned programs areas to include evaluation and analysis. Develops policies, including advisory circulars, inspector guidelines, and training standards related to certification, inspection, surveillance and operation of assigned programs areas. 

Participates in national and international working groups and panels with other organization elements of the agency, or other government agencies, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and industry representatives for the purpose of resolving complex and controversial problems having a direct influence on the safety of assigned technical programs operations, facilities, and equipment.

Provides expert technical leadership, instruction and oversight; assures timely and accurate work and on the job accomplishment; notifies supervisor on work accomplishments, milestones, program initiates, training needs and potential problems.

Prepares a variety of correspondence to other organizations with Flight Standards, aviation industry, other governmental agencies, Member of Congress, and the general public, much of which is highly technical and of high priority.

Requirements

Help

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.

Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the A SI position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following:

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

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

c. 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 (jump seat) or a cabin passenger seat in a variety of aircraft.

Rotorcraft-Helicopter (Flight Oversight) Aviation Safety Inspector Qualification Requirements. In 
addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must meet the additional qualification requirements 
outlined below. 

a. Must hold a valid or expired Flight Instructor Certificate with Rotorcraft-Helicopter 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 a Rotorcraft-Helicopter or an approved flight simulation training device representing a Rotorcraft-Helicopter.  Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in a Rotorcraft-Helicopter, an approved flight simulation training device representing a Rotorcraft-Helicopter, or a combination of both.

b. Must hold an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating or a Commercial Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating and Instrument-Helicopter rating.

c. Minimum 1,500 total flight hours in an aircraft as pilot-in-command or second-in-command, 1,000 hours of which must be in helicopters.

d. 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.

e. 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 level. 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 is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes extensive participation in certification, inspection, and surveillance as it relates to Air Carrier Maintenance or General Aviation Maintenance. Skill in applying, laws and regulations to inspection, investigation, enforcement, and/or compliance work. Providing expert technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to agency management and other senior agents, officers, or inspectors on critical operations. Solving problems demanding technologically advanced methods and innovative approaches. Must have experience in developing, delivering and overseeing delivery of complex subjects to a wide range of internal or external audiences. Experience using SAS Automation and a high level of understanding of using SAS for risk-based decision making. Experience must show application and outcome. (examples of complex subject: SAS training, technical airline training or other complex subject certification requirements or application of system safety incorporating SMS).

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.

Duty Location:

Selectee will be required to report to an FAA Aviation Safety (AVS) Duty Location.

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.

This is a bargaining unit position, represented by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (www.passnational.org)

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.

Federal Aviation Administration

At the FAA, the sky is not the limit—it is just the beginning. Exciting new opportunities are emerging in aviation and aerospace. Significant investments are advancing the research and development of autonomous vehicles, environmentally friendly electric aircraft, high-speed and long-endurance solar-powered aircraft, and new types of space vehicles. Success with these new technologies and vehicle types will introduce new ways to transport people and goods expanding aviation's footprint in transportation. People are our strength. We are a diverse workforce of over 44,000 located nationwide and spanning over 120 occupations to include air traffic control specialists, aviation safety inspectors, engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals. Join us in our mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

Agency contact information

Parris Zaragoza
Phone
1 (847) 294-7769
Fax
1 (847) 294-7858
Email
parris.a.zaragoza@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
AGL Regional HR Services Branch
2300 E. Devon Ave., Room 250
AHF-N310
Des Plaines, IL 60018
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Federal Aviation Administration, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.faa.gov/jobs

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.