Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation-Maintenance)

Job Details

Position Overview

The Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) is responsible for applying substantial knowledge of and experience with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, and procedures for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) field personnel and the public governing all matters to general aviation maintenance safety issues. 

Duties

II. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The PMI receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The PMI, mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or other work. The PMI provides policy assistance to field level Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) on difficult or complex policy interpretations. The work is normally accepted without change. Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.

ASIs at the FG-13 level participate extensively in the certification inspection and surveillance of highly complex air carrier operations where principal program responsibility is vested in an aviation safety inspector of higher grade. These FG-13 employees have broad authority to negotiate with carrier management and make technical determinations within the coverage of approved specifications and policy manuals.

FG-13 assignments are characterized by one or more of the following:
1.  General aviation aircraft or the complex systems associated with such aircraft;
2. A variety of maintenance operations with diverse types of aircraft which may include turbine powered aircraft; or
3. Novel and complex aviation operations.

FG-13 employees plan and conduct their assignments with substantial technical independence. They receive administrative and policy guidance from their supervisors and policy makers. They also obtain technical advice from higher-level inspectors who are experts on a particular type of aircraft or who have overall program responsibility. They independently plan and carry out a work program to meet the needs and monitor the activities of the organizations for which they have certification responsibility. The scope and complexity of the work program may be such as to 
require the occasional assistance of other employees to conduct inspections and evaluate operations.

The PMI applies a mastery knowledge level of the appropriate specialization and a broad knowledge of the line of business mission and goals to assigned programs and areas of responsibility.

The PMI plans and directs the use of time and resources to accomplish organizational objectives. He or she defines, organizes, and uses resources to accomplish work activities within established schedules, analyzes program requirements and accomplishments, and makes or directs adjustments as necessary to address organizational needs.

Guidelines and precedents are frequently inadequate for dealing with novel or complex operations.
FG-13 employees understand and apply the basic principles of aviation safety and interpret the intent of the regulations.

At FG-13, contacts are frequently with owners and top managers of aviation corporations and involve negotiating and resolving the full range of issues and problems that confront large organizations. Occasionally issues are controversial, arousing considerable public interest.

ASIs at the FG-13 level participate extensively in the certification inspection and surveillance of highly complex air carrier operations where principal program responsibility is vested in an aviation safety inspector of higher grade. These FG-13 employees have broad authority to negotiate with carrier management and make technical determinations within the coverage of approved specifications and policy manuals.

The PMI provides guidance to field level staff to solve difficult technical issues. Resolves all but unique problems, with the intervention of management or a more experienced technical specialist. Develop plans, techniques, and policies to address problems and issues. Works with management to solve problems.

Contacts are internal and external to the agency. The PMI occasionally represents the agency as a point of contact for policy development, inspection activities or as a technical trainer/instructor delivering formal training.

Performs other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications & Requirements

OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards for Aviation Safety Series, 1825

General Requirements for All Positions:

1. Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years;
2. Valid State driver's license;
3. Fluency in the English language;
4. No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and
5. High school diploma or equivalent

Medical Requirements for All positions:

Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the Aviation Safety Inspector position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following requirements:

1. Have good distant vision in each eye and be able to read, without strain, printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted);
2. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and
3. Not have any physical condition that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others that would interfere with their ability to fly as passengers in a variety of aircraft.

When the predominant work involves general aviation maintenance, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness.
2. Maintenance experience with aircraft 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight.
3. Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state or Federal governmental agency.
4. Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years.
5. FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.

Note: Recency of specialized experience is waived for current and former FAA employees in the 1825 series.

Certificate and Ratings:

This position requires a certificate and ratings for minimum qualification in the following specialty: General Aviation Maintenance; a copy of the certificate and ratings are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 1825 specialty of General Aviation Maintenance.

Certificate and ratings must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held this position with the FAA.

Certificate and ratings are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying (or previously held) General Aviation Maintenance 1825 series position.

Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the (FV-H, FG/GS-12) level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Specialized experience includes: experience assisting, conducting, or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation, and enforcement activities. Additional experience may be in investigating and reporting on accidents, incidents, and violations.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.

As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Education

Not Applicable.

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
• In-grade/Downgrade Applications will be accepted.
• All or None of the applicants may be interviewed

Requirements

Evaluations

Required Documents

All FAA employees MUST submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50). Certificates and ratings do not need to be submitted from applicants who are currently occupying (or previously held) General Aviation Maintenance 1825 series position. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR GENERAL AVIATION (MAINTENANCE): FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings. Form(s) may be uploaded to your on-line application or submitted by mail or fax. If you choose to submit the form via fax, we cannot guarantee timely receipt or assume responsibility for the quality or legibility of the form. Illegible forms will result in loss of consideration. Mailed or faxed forms should be addressed to the agency point of contact listed in this vacancy announcement. FORM SF-50 SENT VIA EMAIL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

How to Apply

• Relevant work experience: should align to the Job Announcement and address all required qualifications and include job title, employer name, start/end dates, number of hours worked per week.
• Education, certification or licensure: If required, education should include school/institution name, completion date, degree type and GPA.