Airport Airspace Specialist (Regional Airport Airspace Specialist)
Federal Aviation Administration
Posted: April 6, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Federal Aviation Administration
Department of Transportation
Location
Salary
$127,898 - $198,281
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Inspection & Compliance jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves investigating complaints and ensuring airports follow federal rules and grant agreements, while providing expert advice on policies and supporting regional inspectors.
A good fit would be someone with experience in airport operations, legal compliance, or investigations who enjoys detailed analysis and problem-solving in a regulatory environment.
It's ideal for professionals passionate about aviation safety and federal oversight.
Serves as an Airport Compliance Specialist in the Office of Airports Compliance and Management Analysis (ACO) investigating and adjudicating allegations of noncompliance with Federal obligations by airport sponsors.
Provides technical advice on interpreting, recommending, and developing associated policies and assisting regional Airport Compliance Inspectors.
To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I, FG/GS-13 level.
This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEFINED AS: Experience with airport project/program areas related to the FAA Airport Compliance Program, such as airport management, airport planning and development, and airport commercial practices, including contracts and leases, and/or airport law.
AND; Experience in leading investigations or analyzing airport sponsor compliance with AIP grant assurances, or other FAA regulatory functions, including experience drafting written documents sufficient to substantiate and defend findings.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history.
Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability.
DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE.
You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process.
Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process.
Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.
*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.* Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.
**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.** Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement.
Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.
Major Duties:
Performs multiple, varying and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager and as a principal technical specialist or as a project manager or team leader for large work activities.
Provides technical advice, investigates and provides support and assistance in adjudicating formal complaints and FAA-initiated investigations under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 16, Rules of Practice for Federally Assisted Airport Enforcement Proceedings, and monitors airport sponsor compliance with various Federal laws, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, and airport sponsor land and grant obligations.
Applies experience and comprehensive technical knowledge of Federal law and FAA policy to specific airport circumstances and conducts extensive research and analysis of complex issues to determine if an airport sponsors' actions are consistent with its Federal obligations.
Develops and provides policy guidance, procedures, and requirements for US airports to comply with airport sponsor grant assurances.
Provides assistance and support in preparing clear and focused administrative decisions, after conducting thorough investigations, within strict deadlines and provides corresponding findings and conclusions to support Director's Determinations and Final Agency Decisions.
Draws on experience to solve unusual problems and may create new solutions and policy interpretations as the situation requires in coordinating agency efforts to resolve issues resulting from FAA's land use compliance inspections.
Provides support and assistance in reviewing aeronautical and non-aeronautical leases to ensure the provisions are consistent with sponsor grant assurances.
Assists with reviews and analyzes requests for land releases, airport closures and replacement airports.
Conducts analysis to identify financial feasibility for complex projects involving the use of federally obligated land. Contacts are internal and external.
Provides technical advice, guidance, and assistance to the airports division employees, government agencies, airport consultants aviation industry representatives, airport sponsors, and the public on Federal regulations and FAA policy and goals related to the airport compliance program.
Provides guidance to junior and entry level professionals on sponsor obligations and compliance policy.
Researches topics, trends, lessons learned, and analyzes data to pro-actively develop informational compliance briefings, presentations, and guidance for a variety of audiences.
Provides in-house training to junior and entry level professionals within the Division.
Conducts peer review of administrative decisions and compliance policies before final legal/management review and issuance.
Work is reviewed rarely, typically through status reports and at project completion, to ensure technical compliance and alignment with the requirements of the project or other work activity.
Work activities typically impact directly on the objectives of one or more major subdivisions or LOB's/SO's and may impact on the objectives of the FAA.
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