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Legal Instruments Examiner (Applications)

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
AVS, Foundational Business, Civil Aviation Registry, Airmen Certification Branch, AFB-720

Summary

The Legal Instruments Examiner is responsible for examining airmen applications within the Civil Aviation Registry.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/28/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 28, 2026
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$50,460 - $65,599 per year

Salary includes 17.06% locality

Pay scale & grade
FG 7
Promotion potential
10
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
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.
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
AAC-FS-26-AFB720-99470
Control number
875487700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to Current Permanent FAA Employees - FAA Wide

Duties

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The Legal Instruments Examiner is responsible for examining airmen applications, supporting documents, enforcement actions, and is responsible for issuing most classes of airmen certificates and an infinite number of various ratings, type ratings, limitations, exemptions, etc. as well as responding to inquiries from other FAA lines of business, airmen, the aviation public and other governmental agencies regarding airman certification information. This is a developmental position that will require the incumbent to participate in both a formal and informal training program that includes on-the-job training and a classroom training environment. The incumbent will be exposed to almost all aspects of the journeyman level responsibilities listed below for developmental purposes.

The incumbent will perform the following duties, but in a limited and more supervised capacity than at the higher grades.

  • Adjudicates legal instruments, applications and supporting documents for the specific certificates for which they have been trained and tested with various ratings, type ratings, limitations, exemptions, categories, etc. Communicates via oral and written explanations as to the granting or denial of airman certificates, based upon FAA regulations, policy, and guidance material, including international treaty, federal law, and legal case histories.
  • Makes final determination whether to issue the certificate or rating for which the airman is applying, by consideration of all available legal and regulatory guidelines contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), various FAA Orders, exemptions, court decisions, legal precedents, or other governing policy documents for airmen certification.
  • Analyzes legal decisions, enforcement actions and orders to determine the effect of such instruments on the airman's ability to apply for and/or hold an airman's certificate. In the case of airmen who hold multiple certificates, the examiner must determine which certificates and ratings are affected by the legal decisions. Incumbent must determine, from careful analysis of the progression and status of the case, when the airman is qualified for reinstatement or reapplication.
  • Compiles extensive information on legal subjects and documents from the airmen records, and is responsible for the completeness, accuracy, relevancy and correctness of legal content of each airman's complete file. These files are certified by the Airmen Certification Branch and are accepted as evidence in all courts of law in the United States.
  • Evaluates airmen records for the purpose of evidentiary hearings, especially involving cases of suspected fraud or misrepresentation on airman applications. Incumbent interfaces extensively with FAA Regional Counsel Offices in preparation for cases under the FAA Drug Enforcement Assistance Act of 1988 and in accordance with U.S.C 44703 and may be called to testify in these cases and to present evidence.
  • The position requires an in-depth knowledge of the FAA Drug Enforcement Assistance Act of 1988, and knowledge of the FAA's responsibilities under the Act. This will require legal research and independent determination of findings regarding the airman's worthiness to hold an FAA airman certificate and involves liaison with other governmental agencies in the proper disposition of records, evidence, and outcomes of the application process.
  • Processes all telephone and email inquiries and provides guidance to airmen, members of Congress, airlines, attorneys, insurance companies, foreign governments, law enforcement agencies, FAA regional and field offices, TSA, NTSB, GAO, OIG, AOV, and other sources. Makes determinations as to what information can be released from the airmen records, and to whom it can be released.
  • Analyzes incoming mail, composes technical letters, correction notices and provides instruction/information to the clerks for response to public inquiries.

Performs 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).
  • Position will be filled at the FG-7 Level ONLY.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • Successful completion of a security investigation will be required.
  • Please Review Required Documents and Additional Information.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FG/GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience includes experience examining airmen applications; experience analyzing and compiling legal subjects and documents to make sound decisions; experience verifying eligibility based on completeness, accuracy, relevancy, and correctness of supporting documentation; experience with internal and external stakeholders. 

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

Education

Information Regarding KSAs:

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); 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. Interviews may be conducted IAW FAA Policy and applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  2. To be filled within any section of AFB-720.
  3. To be filled at the FG-7 Level ONLY.
  4. Full promotion potential to the FG-10 Level: Identification of promotion in the vacancy announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon the selectee meeting training, qualification requirements, and recommendation by the supervisor.
  5. Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed, or emailed applications cannot be accepted.
  6. 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.
  7. Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.
  8. Additional information regarding living in Oklahoma can be found at www.abetterlifeokc.com
  9. To check receipt of submitted documents, please email 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.

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

Sidney Heifetz
Phone
1 (405) 954-7981
Email
sidney.r.heifetz@faa.gov
Address
Federal Aviation Administration
AAC Regional HR Services Branch
6500 S. Macarthur Blvd, HQ Room 155
AHF-S210
Oklahoma City, OK 73169
US

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