Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation - Operations)

Federal Aviation Administration•Orlando, FL

About The Position

Serves as the Assistant Principal Operations Inspector for the Wheels Up JTT Flight Program at the Denver Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), supporting a Principal (Operations) General Aviation inspector. The position has program responsibility for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees, ensuring that their operations programs comply with Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). Duties include technical administration, certification, surveillance, investigations, and compliance recommendations. The inspector monitors whether assigned organizations are properly organized, staffed, and equipped; maintain acceptable training programs and records; and operate with compliant facilities and procedures. The role includes coordinating with organizational management and FAA inspectors, conducting or directing investigations and reexaminations, and providing technical assistance or testimony when needed. The inspector also evaluates and approves or rejects manuals, training programs, equipment, operating certificates, operations specifications, and operational changes. The position monitors operational safety, including training, facilities, and route systems, and addresses trends or noncompliance through required corrective changes or enforcement. The incumbent must participate in the flight program as an aircrew member and meet applicable medical and flight-currency requirements. Other non-grade-controlling duties may be assigned.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
For males born after December 31, 1959, Selective Service registration is required.
Submit an SF-50 as specified in the announcement.
Meet applicable designated or random drug-testing requirements.
Valid state driver's license.
Fluency in English.
No more than two separate incidents involving Federal Aviation Regulations violations in the last five years.
No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance.
High school diploma or equivalent; education is not qualifying and cannot be substituted for the position requirements.
Meet the physical and medical requirements for safe performance of Aviation Safety Inspector duties, including adequate distant vision, ability to hear conversational voice, and no disqualifying physical condition.
For positions requiring participation in aircraft operation, possess a valid second-class FAA medical certificate and pass recurrent FAA-prescribed medical examinations.
Valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with single- and multi-engine airplane and instrument airplane ratings.
At least 200 hours of flight instruction given in an aircraft.
Professional flying skill demonstrated in a flight check to Commercial Pilot Certificate standards with an instrument rating.
Possess an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument airplane rating.
At least 100 flight hours within the last three years.
At least 1,500 total flight hours.
Possess single- and multi-engine land airplane ratings.
No more than two flying accidents in the last five years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved.
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 on FAR Part 135 air carriers or air operators. Recency of this experience is waived for current FAA employees in the 1825 series.
Qualifications must be met by the vacancy announcement closing date.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
A financial disclosure statement may be required within 30 days of entry on duty.
Current or former federal employees, including FAA employees, must provide a recent non-award SF-50 or equivalent verifying tenure.

Responsibilities

Ensure assigned organizations are properly organized, staffed, and equipped and maintain adequate training programs, records, facilities, and procedures that meet regulatory requirements.
Chair joint FAA-industry meetings, maintain contact with assigned organizations, and coordinate with their top management officials.
Conduct enforcement investigations and prepare final reports and recommendations on 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 court 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 on non-routine air-carrier surveillance.
Approve, accept, disapprove, or reject manuals, school curricula, revisions, and training programs; require amendments when needed to address regulatory conflicts, unsafe practices, or insufficiently specific instruction.
Approve or disapprove flight simulators, training devices, and other equipment used in training programs.
Approve or disapprove check-airman designations and recommend appointments of designees.
Evaluate operations and facilities through on-site inspections and review of reports; negotiate necessary or desirable policy and procedure changes.
Evaluate requests to operate under conditions not previously authorized and prescribe additional conditions or limitations when appropriate.
Approve original operations specifications and issue original operating certificates; 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 and recommend changes required before approval.
Monitor operational phases, including training programs and records, base and station facilities, and route systems; identify safety trends and direct or suggest corrective changes.
Monitor 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.