Airport Certification and Safety Inspector

Federal Aviation Administration • Queens, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as an Airport Certification Safety Inspector (ACSI) responsible for 14 CFR Part 139 compliance for the Office of Airports (ARP), Eastern Regional Airports Division. Duties include performing multiple, varying, and complex assignments under limited direction, applying experience and comprehensive technical knowledge to conduct periodic and surveillance inspections at Part 139 certified airports. These inspections ensure compliance with standards for records, personnel, paved and unpaved areas, safety areas, marking signs, lighting, snow and ice control, aircraft rescue and firefighting, handling and storing of hazardous substances and materials, traffic and wind direction indicators, airport emergency plans, self-inspection programs, pedestrians and ground vehicles, obstructions, protection of NAVAIDS, public protection, wildlife hazard management, airport condition reporting, and identifying/marking/lighting construction and other unserviceable areas. The role also involves reviewing and recommending approval of Airport Certification Manuals and emergency plans, investigating violations, evaluating petitions for exemptions, conducting investigations of vehicle/pedestrian deviations, reviewing Construction Safety Phasing Plans, inspecting airports during construction, reviewing and approving wildlife hazard assessments and management plans, and initiating enforcement actions. The inspector will support accident investigations as a subject matter expert, potentially serving on an Accident Investigation Board, and collaborate with others to improve surface safety, review runway safety action plans, and provide comments on policies and procedures. Runway Safety Area inventories and reviews of airport layout plans, obstruction charts, safety equipment descriptions, and construction documents are also key responsibilities. The position supports safety training outreach efforts and allows considerable discretion in selecting approaches to assignments, resolving technical problems independently, and identifying issues for management attention. Work is periodically reviewed for technical compliance.

Requirements

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• To qualify for this position all applicants must demonstrate in their application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
• Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
• To be creditable, specialized experience must be at least equivalent to the next lower grade or band level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
• To qualify for the FV-G level, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least three years of progressively responsible general experience that demonstrates the ability to analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, recognize solutions, plan and organize work and convey information, with at least one year equivalent to the FG/GS-4 level.
• To qualify for the FV-H level, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-G, FG/GS-5-9 levels.
• Examples of specialized experience for this position include experience in: conducting inspections at airports to ensure operational safety and/or compliance with FAA standards and regulations; reviewing Airport Certification Manuals and emergency plans required by regulation to ensure current and adequate airport operating procedures; reviewing individual airport layout plans, obstruction charts, safety equipment descriptions, construction drawing and documents related to certification requirements; and conducting reviews of wildlife hazard assessments and wildlife hazard management plans.
• To qualify for this position at the FV-I level, all applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H, FG/GS 10-12 levels.
• Examples of specialized experience for this position include experience in: experience with conducting inspections at 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.
• Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
• A valid driver's license is required.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Performs multiple, varying and complex assignments as an Airport Certification Safety Inspector (ACSI) under the limited direction of the manager.
• Applies experience and comprehensive technical knowledge as he/she conducts periodic and surveillance inspections at Part 139 certified airports including medium to 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-inspection 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 of 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 of any or all of 14 CFR Part 139 directives.
• Conducts investigation of vehicle/pedestrian deviations at airports and evaluate results for closure or enforcement (administrative or legal).
• Conducts reviews of Construction Safety Phasing Plans and conducts inspections of airports to ensure operational safety during construction meets current standards.
• Reviews and recommends approval of 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 enforcement 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 accident or incident on or near an airport, as a subject matter expert.
• 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.
• Collaborates 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.
• Reviews and provides comments on policies, procedures, standards, guidance, and other instructions issued by Headquarters.
• 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 and verifies individual airport layout plans, obstruction charts, safety equipment descriptions, construction drawings and documents related to certification requirements.
• Supports various safety training outreach efforts with various stakeholders to include out of region and international training initiatives.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.
• Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree