Aviation Safety Inspector (ACM), Assistant Principal Maintenance Inspector (APMI)

Federal Aviation Administration•Phoenix, AZ

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Principal Maintenance Inspector (APMI) serves as a full assistant to a Principal Inspector, performing certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees. The position is responsible for ensuring assigned organizations comply with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations concerning maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration programs, and assists in establishing inspection and surveillance work programs. Under the general direction of a Principal Inspector or Supervisory Principal Inspector, the APMI provides technical administration, including monitoring assigned organizations’ staffing, equipment, training, recordkeeping, facilities, and procedures; coordinating with management and industry; addressing deficiencies; and conducting enforcement, investigations, and related technical or legal support. The role also supports initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and air agencies, reviews manuals and maintenance programs, evaluates facilities and training, and approves or recommends approval of operations specifications and program changes. The APMI directs inspection and surveillance of air carriers’ continuous airworthiness programs and monitors maintenance, engineering, quality control, production control, training, and reliability activities. Applicants must meet the stated federal qualifications, medical requirements, and specialized aviation maintenance experience requirements. This is not a virtual or remotely sited position.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must submit an SF-50.
No more than two separate incidents involving Federal Aviation Regulations violations in the last five years.
Valid state driver's license.
Fluency in English.
No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Must be physically able to perform the position's duties safely and efficiently, with or without reasonable accommodation; minimum medical requirements include adequate distant vision, ability to hear conversational voice, and no physical condition that would create a hazard or interfere with flying as a passenger in a variety of aircraft.
For positions requiring participation in aircraft operation, must possess a valid FAA second-class medical certificate and pass recurrent FAA-prescribed medical examinations.
Applicants not requiring a valid second-class medical certificate who are tentatively selected must provide physician documentation of meeting minimum medical requirements or undergo an individualized assessment if they do not meet them.
For airworthiness positions where predominant work involves air carrier maintenance: experience maintaining and repairing airframes, power plants, and systems of multi-engine aircraft over 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight under an airworthiness maintenance and inspection program.
For airworthiness positions where predominant work involves air carrier maintenance: aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station, air carrier or airline repair facility, military repair facility, or local, state, or federal government agency.
For airworthiness positions where predominant work involves air carrier maintenance: experience maintaining and repairing airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
For airworthiness positions where predominant work involves air carrier maintenance: aircraft maintenance work experience within the last three years.
For airworthiness positions where predominant work involves air carrier maintenance: FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H, FG/GS-12 as an Aviation Safety Inspector.
Specialized experience must demonstrate oversight of Part 121 air carrier operations, including evaluating maintenance or avionics activities of complex aviation organizations and evaluating program change proposals of complex aviation organizations.
Qualification requirements must be met by the vacancy announcement closing date.
Applicants must provide current work history with job titles, specialty, series, and grade level, and detailed examples supporting their qualifications and questionnaire answers.
Selection and placement are contingent on waiver or completion of satisfactory security requirements.

Responsibilities

Ensure assigned organizations are properly organized, staffed, and equipped, and maintain adequate training, recordkeeping, facilities, and compliant procedures.
Chair joint FAA and industry meetings; maintain contact with assigned organizations and coordinate with top management officials.
Require or direct correction of deficiencies and discrepancies, and refuse or withdraw approval when issues cannot be resolved.
Develop avionics program requirements through participation on maintenance review boards; coordinate minimum equipment list (MEL) approvals with the principal operations inspector and take enforcement action for MEL noncompliance.
Conduct enforcement investigations and prepare final reports and recommendations; perform or supervise emergency certificate suspensions or cancellation 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 provide depositions.
Coordinate with geographic inspectors on non-routine air carrier surveillance.
Perform initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and air agencies; make recommendations regarding appointment of designees.
Evaluate requests for airworthiness operating conditions not previously specified, and approve or disapprove them with additional conditions or limitations as needed.
Guide air carriers in developing maintenance manuals and recordkeeping systems; review manuals and revisions for adequacy, regulatory compliance, safe practices, and clear instructions.
Approve operations specifications and amendments.
Determine whether maintenance facilities and contract arrangements for overhaul, major repairs, alterations, and other maintenance are satisfactory; review changes and negotiate with management to resolve problems.
Determine whether overhaul and inspection time limits warrant revision; evaluate proposed reliability programs, advise operators of deficiencies and required changes, and approve or disapprove programs.
Determine whether air carrier training programs meet regulatory requirements, align with airworthiness programs, are properly organized and conducted, and produce competent personnel.
Direct or participate in flight evaluations to assess regulatory compliance and recommend changes required before approval.
Direct inspection and surveillance of air carriers’ continuous airworthiness programs; monitor maintenance, engineering, quality control, production control, training, and reliability activities.
Analyze air carrier reports for compliance and ensure effective continuing analysis and surveillance programs.
Perform other duties as assigned.