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Aviation Safety Inspector (AC - Flight Oversight), Principal Oversight Inspector

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Aviation Safety, Flight Standards Service, Air Carrier Safety Assurance, Pacific CMO

Summary

The Principal Oversight Inspector (POI) is responsible for the full range of certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees. Has program responsibility to assure that assigned organizations meet Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) with respect to flight operations programs. Establishes work programs for inspection and surveillance.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/11/2025 to 12/31/2025
Salary
$106,382 to - $138,296 per year

The salary shown reflects the basic pay only. Locality pay will be added for the respective duty location.

Pay scale & grade
FG 14
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Phoenix, AZ
El Segundo, CA
Oakland, CA
Sacramento, CA
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 2 years
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
AEA-AFS-26-JAD-96634
Control number
852136800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

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Under the general direction of the Front Line Manager or Supervisory Principal Inspector, accomplishes the following duties:

A. Technical Administration

On a continuing basis, ensures assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed and equipped; establishes and conducts adequate training programs; maintains record keeping systems; and facilities and ensures procedures meet all regulatory requirements.

Chairs joint Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry meetings. Maintains regular contact with organizations assigned and coordinates with top management officials. Requires or directs correction of any deficiencies/discrepancies and refuses or withdraws approval if they cannot be resolved.

Responsible for conducting enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition. Performs or supervises the emergency suspension of certificates or cancellation of operations specifications. Conducts or directs the reexamination of certificated airmen or recertification of an operator or agency.

Conducts investigations of public complaints, congressional inquiries, and aircraft incidents and accidents. Provides verbal and/or written technical assistance to legal counsel, testifies at court trials and formal hearings, and gives dispositions.

Coordinates minimum equipment list (MEL) approvals with the principal inspector. Takes enforcement action in instances of noncompliance with the MEL.

Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of non-routine air carrier surveillance.

B. Certification

Approves/accepts or disapproves/rejects manuals and revisions to such manuals. May require amendments to previously approved manuals to accomplish the following: correct any conflict with regulatory requirements; eliminate unsafe practices: and/or improve the specificity of instruction.

Evaluates training programs to ensure that they meet the requirements of 14 CFR. Approves or disapproves these training programs including flight simulators, training devices, or other such equipment used in these programs.

Approves/disapproves designation of check airmen and makes recommendations on the appointment of designees.

Evaluates operations and facilities by on-site inspections and review of reports by geographic inspectors or others. Negotiates changes essential or desirable in their policies and procedures. Determines the appropriate methods and/or plans for securing corrective action and determines through on-site inspection or inspector reports the effectiveness of any action.

Evaluates and approves/disapproves requests to operate under conditions not previously authorized and may prescribe additional conditions and limitations as appropriate.

Approves the original issuance of operations specifications and issues original operating certificates. Approves amendments to operations specifications. Evaluates the safety of proposed changes in route or airport authorizations; prescribes any changes required before approval.

Directs or participates in flight evaluations to determine compliance with 14 CFR. Recommends changes that will be required prior to approval.

C. Surveillance

Responsible for monitoring all phases of operations including training programs and records, base and station facilities, and route systems. Coordinates with and reviews reports from geographic inspectors and others to identify trends which indicate deterioration in the safety of operations. Directs or suggests changes required to correct such trends.

Responsible for monitoring the activities of designated examiners, check airmen, and instructors.

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).
  • This is not a virtual or remotely sited position.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: All applicants must meet the following basic requirements:

  1. Not more than two separate incidents involving Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations violations in the last five 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, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following:

  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 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.

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:

  1. At least one year of pilot experience in multi-engine aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight.
  2. 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 multi-engine aircraft or more than 12,500 maximum takeoff weight.
  3. Minimum 1,500 total flight hours.
  4. Must hold a valid Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.
  5. Not more than two flying accidents during 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 experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13 grade level as an Aviation Safety Inspector. 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: Work involves monitoring and issuing certificates to a large complex aviation organization or several smaller organizations that, in total, are comparable in complexity to one large aviation organization. Work at this grade level/pay band is generally reviewed from an overall standpoint for accuracy, consistency, and effectiveness in meeting requirements.

NOTE: The Aviation Safety Inspector (Flight Oversight) position does not require a second-class medical certificate.

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

This is a temporary position not-to-exceed 2 years; it may be extended, terminated or become permanent without further competition. If this position remains temporary, upon completion of this assignment, the selected employee shall return to his/her original permanent position or an equivalent position in the same commuting area.

Permanent federal employees selected for this position must be willing to accept a temporary appointment.

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.

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

Selection and placement are contingent upon waiver or completion of satisfactory security requirements.

Work history must state job titles including specialty, series and grade level held.

No references will be made from your Official Personnel File, so information must be current and up to date.

All or none of the applicants may be interviewed.

Ingrade/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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