Aviation Safety Inspector (Operations), Assistant Principal Operations Inspector

Federal Aviation Administration•Miramar, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Principal Operations Inspector 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 role has program responsibility for ensuring assigned organizations meet Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) requirements for operations programs and assists in establishing inspection and surveillance work programs. Under the general direction of the Principal Inspector or Supervisory Principal Inspector, the inspector handles technical administration, certification, surveillance, and flight-program duties. This includes monitoring organizations’ staffing, equipment, training, records, facilities, procedures, and operational safety; evaluating and approving manuals, training programs, certificates, operations specifications, and operational changes; and investigating enforcement matters, complaints, incidents, and accidents. The inspector also participates in the FAA flight program and must maintain applicable qualifications and currency. This is not a virtual or remotely sited position. The role is subject to designated or random drug testing and may require a one-year probationary period and a financial disclosure statement. The selected applicant may be required to meet security requirements. The position is covered by the Department of Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Program.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959.
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.
Meet the stated medical requirements: good distant vision in each eye and ability to read printed materials without strain (glasses or contact lenses permitted); ability to hear conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); 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, possess a valid second-class FAA medical certificate and pass recurrent FAA-prescribed medical examinations. Applicants not requiring a second-class certificate who are tentatively selected must provide a board-certified physician’s documentation of minimum medical fitness or may receive an individualized assessment if they do not meet the minimum requirements.
For positions predominantly involving air carrier operations: at least one year of pilot experience in multi-engine aircraft over 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight; no more than two flying accidents involving applicant pilot error in the last five years; professional flying skill demonstrated in a simulator check to Airline Transport Pilot Standard; at least 100 flight hours in the last three years; an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating (Department of Navy positions have stated alternative experience); a valid second-class FAA medical certificate; and at least 1,500 total flight hours.
At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-H, FG/GS-12 as an Aviation Safety Inspector. Examples include conducting flight crew training and testing under applicable FARs, FAA-approved training programs, and current testing standards; conducting enforcement investigations and preparing final reports and recommendations; and monitoring assigned air carrier ground and flight training.
For applicants in the 1825 series, recency of specialized experience and the need for a valid second-class FAA medical certificate are waived, as stated in the announcement.
Provide a resume with detailed work history supporting qualifications and questionnaire answers, including job titles, specialty, series, and grade level held; qualification requirements must be met by the vacancy closing date.
Meet satisfactory security requirements or obtain a waiver; the position may be subject to a background investigation.
The inspector is required to maintain an FAA second-class medical certificate.

Responsibilities

Ensure assigned organizations are properly organized, staffed, and equipped; maintain adequate training and record-keeping systems; and ensure facilities and procedures meet regulatory requirements.
Chair joint FAA and industry meetings, maintain regular contact with assigned organizations, and coordinate with their top management officials.
Require or direct correction of deficiencies and discrepancies, and refuse or withdraw approval when issues cannot be resolved.
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 and testify at court trials and formal hearings.
Coordinate minimum equipment list (MEL) approvals and take enforcement action for MEL noncompliance; coordinate non-routine air carrier surveillance with geographic inspectors.
Approve, accept, disapprove, or reject manuals and revisions, and require amendments to correct regulatory conflicts, eliminate unsafe practices, or improve instructions.
Evaluate and approve or disapprove training programs, including flight simulators, training devices, and other equipment used in training.
Approve or disapprove check-airman designations and recommend appointments of designees.
Evaluate operations and facilities through on-site inspections and reports; negotiate necessary changes to policies and procedures; determine and verify corrective actions.
Evaluate requests to operate under conditions not previously authorized and prescribe additional conditions or limitations where 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 flight evaluations to determine compliance with 14 CFR and recommend changes required before approval.
Monitor all phases of operations, including training programs and records, base and station facilities, and route systems.
Review reports and coordinate with geographic inspectors to identify operational safety trends, and direct or suggest corrective changes.
Monitor designated examiners, check airmen, and instructors.
Participate in the FAA flight program, maintaining qualifications and currency for flight-related functions, including training and evaluation of designated pilot examiners.
Perform other duties as assigned.