Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation - Operations)

Federal Aviation Administration•Watkins, CO

About The Position

The Assistant Principal Inspector (General Aviation - Operations) serves as an assistant to a Principal Inspector (General Aviation - Operations), performing certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees. The position is responsible for ensuring that assigned organizations meet Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) regarding operations programs. Under the general direction of the Principal Inspector (Operations), the inspector performs technical administration, certification, and surveillance work. The inspector monitors organizations’ staffing, equipment, training, records, facilities, and procedures; investigates enforcement matters, complaints, inquiries, incidents, and accidents; and evaluates operational documents, training programs, facilities, and proposed operational changes. The role includes approving or disapproving operating certificates and operations specifications, coordinating inspections and surveillance, and recommending or directing corrective actions. The incumbent must participate in the flight program as an aircrew member and meet applicable medical and flight-currency requirements. A valid second-class FAA medical certificate must be maintained. When directed, the inspector must keep an appropriate control point informed of their whereabouts and contact information for potential aviation incident or accident investigations.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959.
Submit an SF-50 when applicable as specified in the announcement.
Meet the Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for Aviation Safety Inspector positions, including no more than two separate incidents involving Federal Aviation Regulations violations in the last five years.
Valid state driver's license and fluency in English.
No chemical dependency or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance.
High school diploma or equivalent; education cannot substitute for the position's qualifications.
Physically able to safely and efficiently perform the position's duties, with or without reasonable accommodation; meet the stated minimum vision, hearing, and physical-condition requirements.
For positions requiring participation in aircraft operation, possess a valid second-class medical certificate under FAA regulations and pass recurrent FAA medical examinations.
Possess a valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with single- and multi-engine airplane and instrument airplane ratings.
Have provided at least 200 hours of flight instruction in an aircraft.
Demonstrate professional flying skill in a flight check to Commercial Pilot Certificate level with an instrument rating.
Possess an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating.
Have at least 100 flight hours within the last three years and at least 1,500 total flight hours.
Possess single- and multi-engine land airplane ratings.
Have no more than two flying accidents in the last five years in which pilot error was involved.
Possess a valid second-class FAA medical certificate.
Demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-H or GS/FG-12 level: assisting with, conducting, or performing technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation, and compliance recommendations for operational activities of FAR Part 135 air carriers or air operators. Recency of specialized experience is waived for current FAA employees in the 1825 series.
Meet all qualifications by the vacancy announcement closing date.
A successful transition check ride may be required.
Maintain a second-class medical certificate.
A background investigation and favorable adjudication are required unless a waiver is obtained; the position is designated Moderate Risk (Tier 2).
Pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening is required; random drug and/or alcohol testing applies to testing-designated positions.
Current or former federal employees, including FAA employees, must submit a recent non-award SF-50 or equivalent document verifying tenure, as specified in the announcement.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
The selected candidate may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty.
The position is covered by the Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Program and is represented by the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists bargaining unit.

Responsibilities

Ensure assigned organizations are properly organized, staffed, and equipped, and maintain adequate training programs, records, facilities, and procedures that comply with regulatory requirements.
Chair joint FAA-industry meetings, maintain regular contact with assigned organizations, and coordinate with their top management officials.
Conduct enforcement investigations and prepare final reports and recommendations regarding their disposition.
Perform or supervise emergency certificate suspensions or cancellations of operations specifications.
Conduct or direct reexaminations of certificated airmen and recertification of operators or agencies.
Investigate public complaints, congressional inquiries, and aircraft incidents and accidents.
Provide technical assistance to legal counsel, testify at trials and formal hearings, and give depositions.
Coordinate Minimum Equipment List (MEL) approvals with principal airworthiness inspectors and take enforcement action for MEL noncompliance.
Coordinate with geographic inspectors to accomplish non-routine air-carrier surveillance.
Approve, accept, disapprove, or reject manuals, school curricula, and revisions; require amendments to address regulatory conflicts, unsafe practices, or insufficiently specific instruction.
Evaluate and approve or disapprove training programs, including flight simulators, training devices, and other equipment used in those programs.
Approve or disapprove check-airman designations and recommend the appointment of designees.
Evaluate operations and facilities through onsite inspections and reviews of reports; negotiate necessary or desirable changes to organizational policies and procedures.
Evaluate requests to operate under conditions not previously authorized and prescribe additional conditions or limitations when appropriate.
Approve original operating certificates and operations specifications, and approve amendments to operations specifications.
Evaluate the safety of proposed route or airport authorization changes and prescribe changes required before approval.
Direct or participate in proving flight evaluations for FAR compliance and recommend changes required before approval.
Monitor all phases of operations, including training programs and records, base and station facilities, and route systems.
Review information from geographic inspectors and others to identify trends that may indicate deteriorating operational safety, and direct or suggest corrective changes.
Monitor the activities of designated examiners, check airmen, and instructors.
Participate in the flight program as an aircrew member and meet applicable medical and flight-currency requirements.
When directed, keep an appropriate control point informed of whereabouts and a reachable phone number for aviation incident or accident investigations.