Aviation Safety Inspector (AW) (Partial Program Manager (PPM)

Federal Aviation Administration • Hapeville, GA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Partial Program Manager serves as a full assistant to the Principal Avionics Inspector, performing certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees for the A-220 or B717 fleet. The position has program responsibility for ensuring assigned organizations meet Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration programs for the A-220 fleet.

Under the general direction of the Supervisory Principal Inspector (Avionics), the inspector administers technical programs, certifies and monitors organizations and personnel, and conducts surveillance of assigned airworthiness programs. The position may also involve enforcement investigations, accident and incident inquiries, legal proceedings, and coordination with other inspectors and industry representatives.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Selective Service registration for males born after December 31, 1959.
• No more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the past five years.
• Valid state driver’s license.
• Fluency in English.
• No chemical dependency or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to meet the stated medical requirements: adequate distant vision and ability to read printed material, ability to hear conversational speech (hearing aids permitted), and no physical condition that would create a hazard or interfere with flying as a passenger in various aircraft.
• For positions requiring participation in aircraft operation, a valid second-class medical certificate under FAA regulations and recurrent FAA-prescribed medical examinations are required.
• Applicants who do not need a second-class medical certificate and are tentatively selected must provide a board-certified physician’s documentation of meeting minimum medical requirements, or may receive an individualized assessment if they do not meet those requirements.
• Aircraft avionics experience involving maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed aircraft avionics systems.
• Avionics maintenance experience on aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight greater than 12,500 pounds.
• Aircraft avionics work experience within the last three years, which may include supervision or auditing, at a repair station, air carrier repair facility, military repair facility, or local, state, or Federal government agency.
• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FG/GS-13 level, demonstrating knowledge and ability to perform the position’s duties. Examples include technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement, or investigating and reporting on accidents, incidents, and violations and evaluating air carrier, air agency, and commercial operator programs.
• Qualifications must be met by the vacancy announcement’s closing date.

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 contact with assigned organizations, and coordinate with senior management officials.
• Require or direct correction of deficiencies and discrepancies, and refuse or withdraw approval when issues cannot be resolved.
• Develop maintenance 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 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, aircraft incidents, and accidents.
• Provide technical assistance to legal counsel, testify at trials and formal hearings, and provide dispositions.
• Coordinate non-routine air carrier surveillance with geographic inspectors.
• Conduct initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and air agencies, and recommend appointments of designees.
• Evaluate requests to operate under conditions not previously specified in airworthiness operations specifications, and approve or disapprove requests with conditions and limitations as appropriate.
• Guide air carriers in developing maintenance manuals and record-keeping 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 maintenance arrangements are satisfactory; review changes and negotiate with air carrier management to resolve problems.
• Determine whether overhaul and inspection time limitations warrant revision.
• Evaluate proposed reliability programs for compliance with national policies, advise operators of deficiencies and required changes, and approve or disapprove programs.
• Assess whether air carrier training programs meet regulatory requirements and are compatible with and effective in supporting the airworthiness program.
• Direct or participate in flight evaluations to determine regulatory compliance and recommend changes needed before approval.
• Direct inspection and surveillance of assigned portions of an air carrier’s continuous airworthiness program under the Principal Inspector’s guidance.
• Monitor airworthiness operations, including maintenance, engineering, quality control, production control, training, and reliability programs; analyze trends for deterioration.
• Monitor the activities of airmen, operators, agencies, and designees.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive range of benefits; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED