Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness)

Full Job Description

Responsible for applying expert knowledge of and experience with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulation (14 CFR) 43, 65, 91, 119, 125, 135, 137, 145,147, and/or 183 for the development and implementation of standards governing all matters related to airworthiness issues.

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.

In addition, applicants for positions that require participation in the operation of the aircraft must: 1. Possess a valid second – class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations; and 2.

Pass recurrent medical examinations as prescribed by the FAA. Applicants not requiring valid second-class medical certificates who are tentatively selected will be required to: 1.

Provide documentation from a board-certified physician certifying that they meet the minimal medical requirements; or 2.

Individuals who do not meet the minimum medical requirements but who are otherwise qualified will receive an individualized assessment to determine whether they can perform the essential functions of the position.

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.

When the predominant work involves air carrier 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 systems of multi-engine aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight maintained under an airworthiness maintenance and inspection program.

2. Aircraft maintenance experience in a repair station; air carrier or airline repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency. 3.

Experience involving the maintenance and repair of airframes, power plants, and aircraft systems with responsibility for certifying airworthiness. 4.

Aircraft maintenance work experience within the last 3 years. 5. FAA Mechanic Certificate with airframe and power plant ratings.

When the predominant work involves general aviation avionics, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements. 1.

Aircraft avionics experience involving the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed avionics systems on aircraft. 2.

Aircraft avionics work experience (which could include supervision or auditing) in a repair station; air carrier repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency within the last 3 years.

When the predominant work involves air carrier avionics, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements. 1.

Aircraft avionics experience involving the maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of installed avionics systems on aircraft. 2.

Avionics maintenance experience on aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight. 3.

Aircraft avionics work experience (which could include supervision or auditing) in a repair station; air carrier repair facility; military repair facility; or local, state, or Federal governmental agency within the last 3 years.

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Experience includes extensive participation in certification, inspection, and surveillance as it relates to Air Carrier Avionics and Maintenance or General Aviation Avionics and Maintenance.

Experience developing and/or interpreting FAA regulations, policy and guidance directly related to the operation, maintenance, inspection, alteration or repair of aircraft and aircraft systems.

Specific examples are Regulations, Advisory Circulars, Orders, Policy Memorandums, Notices, Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO), Legal Interpretations, Policy Interpretations that have broad, national, or international application.

In addition to the above, this vacancy has a Quality Ranking Factor, listed below. Applicants who meet this factor will be placed in a Well Qualified category.

This factor is also listed under the Other Factors section.

Experience working in the aviation industry, including, but not limited to, the Office of Safety Standards, and/or Safety Assurance, regulatory authorities, aircraft maintenance organizations, or other aviation entities as a team lead or subject matter expert on cross-organizational policy issues.

Such experience must have resulted in the publication of Regulations, Advisory Circulars, Orders, Policy Memorandums, Notices, Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO), Legal Interpretations, Policy Interpretations, or similar guidance documents with broad, national, or international applications.

The applicant must provide specifics to support this factor. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement Major Duties:

The work involves the full range of general aviation or air carrier airworthiness activities relative to public and industry use where applicable.

Serves as Flight Standards technical expert with responsibility for the planning, development, standardization, evaluation and effectiveness of assigned general aviation maintenance programs nationwide.

Rulemaking: Serves an Aviation Safety Inspector responsible for reviewing and evaluating, on a continuing basis, established rules and regulations related to assigned technical programs to assure that they have kept pace with the needs to which they were directed and that they are still reasonable, necessary, and adequate.

Evaluates regulatory petitions or proposals from within or outside the agency, and recommends the development of new or amended rules, regulations, or other regulatory material, and the discontinuance of rules and regulations no longer considered necessary.

Exemptions: Responsible for the preparation of Federal Register notices regarding assigned technical programs for original petitions for exemptions and analysis of technical input from other employees within Flight Standards.

Also, the incumbent coordinates with other Aviation Safety and Flight Standards Organizations to develop a complete analysis and appropriate response.

Since exemptions are rulemaking documents, this review may include coordination with the Office of Chief Counsel so that the denial, grant or disposition of petition for rulemaking will withstand a legal challenge.

Technical input must be reviewed for completeness and ensure it responds to all aspects of an exemption petition.

Policy Development and Implementation: Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of division policy in assigned program areas to include evaluation and analysis.

Develops policies, including advisory circulars, inspector guidelines, and training standards related to certification, inspection, surveillance and operation of assigned program areas.

Reviews and evaluates, on a continuing basis, established rules and regulations to assure they have kept pace with needs to which they were directed and that they are still reasonable, necessary, and adequate.

Representative to Industry, Government, and International Organizations: Participates in national and international working groups and panels with other organization elements of the agency, or other government agencies, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and industry representatives for the purpose of resolving complex and controversial problems having a direct influence on the safety of assigned technical programs, operations, facilities, and equipment.

Conducts or participates in group or team meetings which include representatives of other government agencies, the aviation industry, aviation organizations, state, municipal and foreign governments where assigned programs and responsibilities are involved.

Develops operational policies, including advisory circulars, inspector guidelines, and training standards.

Training and Outreach: The incumbent engages with internal and external stakeholders to promote safety, understanding, and compliance related to assigned programs.

Develops new and revises existing agency employee training courses, to include on-the-job training (OJT) job task analysis (JTA) documents.

Serves as course mentor for agency sponsored training courses.

Correspondence: Assures that correspondence is properly formatted, coordinated, technically and grammatically accurate, clear and concise, and that its tone, document template and content reflect the philosophy, policies, and objectives of Flight Standards and the FAA.

Technical Assists: Provides technical support and conducts research for internal stakeholders related to a variety of issues.