Aviation Safety Inspector (AW-ACV) (Principal Avionics Inspector - Air Carrier)

Federal Aviation Administration•Anchorage, AK

About The Position

The Principal Avionics Inspector (PAI) oversees and provides safety assurance for certification, surveillance, compliance, enforcement, and inspection activities involving assigned air carriers, airmen, and designees. The role ensures that the assigned organization complies with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), particularly in relation to its Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP). The position is based in Anchorage, Alaska, and focuses on avionics in a complex air-carrier environment. As the principal representative for regulatory surveillance and risk management, the PAI exercises full certificate authority over a major air carrier with extensive and complex operations, including large fleets of turbojet aircraft used for passenger and freight service. The inspector applies advanced technical knowledge, promotes regulatory compliance and safety, identifies hazards, and supports risk management. The work has broad effects on aircraft operations and the safety of the flying public, and may require regular assistance from managers, inspectors, and administrative staff. The PAI plans and carries out programs and studies, advises field-level Aviation Safety Inspectors on complex policy interpretations, and addresses issues involving advanced multi-engine turbojet aircraft and the operator’s CAMP. The inspector monitors program requirements and schedules, adjusts work as needed, communicates with air-carrier officials and government and civil aviation counterparts, and keeps front-line management informed. The role also advises office management, prepares and coordinates technical and priority correspondence, and performs other duties as required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Must submit an SF-50.
May be subject to a Moderate Risk background investigation.
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 dependency or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance.
High school diploma or equivalent; education does not substitute for experience.
Must be physically able to perform the duties safely and efficiently, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Must meet minimum medical requirements: good distant vision in each eye and ability to read printed material 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, must possess a valid second-class medical certificate and pass recurrent FAA medical examinations.
For applicants not required to hold a second-class medical certificate, tentative selectees must provide a board-certified physician’s documentation of minimum medical fitness or undergo an individualized assessment if they do not meet those minimum requirements.
Aircraft avionics experience maintaining, repairing, and troubleshooting installed aircraft avionics systems.
Avionics maintenance experience on aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight greater than 12,500 pounds.
Within the last three years, aircraft avionics work experience—which may include supervision or auditing—in 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 the FV-I/FG-13 level, including technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation, and compliance recommendations for avionics systems on FAR Part 121 air carriers or operators.
Specialized experience includes evaluating and deciding on proposed changes to organizations’ authorized programs; monitoring, planning, or conducting inspection programs; assuring organizations are adequately organized, staffed, and equipped and have acceptable training and record-keeping systems and compliant facilities and procedures; and conducting enforcement investigations and preparing final reports and recommendations.
Qualifications must be met by the vacancy announcement closing date.
Applicants should include specific examples of specialized experience in their work history.

Responsibilities

Oversee certification, surveillance, compliance, enforcement, and inspection activities for assigned air carriers, airmen, and designees.
Ensure the assigned organization meets 14 CFR requirements, including requirements for its Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP).
Exercise certificate authority and conduct regulatory surveillance and risk management for a major air carrier with complex operations.
Analyze operations involving large fleets of turbojet aircraft used in passenger and freight service.
Apply advanced avionics and aircraft technical knowledge to promote safety compliance, identify hazards, and manage risk.
Plan, design, and carry out programs, projects, studies, and other work; monitor requirements and adjust work to meet organizational needs.
Provide policy assistance to field-level Aviation Safety Inspectors on difficult or complex interpretations.
Address issues concerning advanced multi-engine turbojet aircraft, the operator’s CAMP, aircraft certification and modifications, safety management, and regulatory compliance.
Maintain communication with air-carrier officials, including Part 119 officials, the accountable executive for SMS, and middle management, and collaborate with other government agencies and civil aviation authorities.
Inform front-line management about the status of programs and projects and ensure completed staff work is technically accurate, coordinated, and timely.
Advise office management on assigned matters and assist in preparing technical and priority correspondence for leadership, industry, government agencies, Congress, and the public.
Perform other duties as required.