Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft-Helicopter)

Summary

The position is assigned to the Flight Standards Service/General Aviation Safety Assurance Division (AFG) and serves as the POI (Rotorcraft/Helicopter) for Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for general aviation rotorcraft/helicopter operations. The employee will perform the full range of certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees.

Duties

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Provides policy assistance and conducts periodic surveillance of designated pilot examiners, check airmen, air carrier training programs.

Some assignments involve wide responsibility for application of expert knowledge of flight operations for technically advanced rotorcraft/helicopters. Such employees are concerned with all aspects of the operational capabilities and limitations of the aircraft

On a continuing basis, assures that assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped; have an adequate training program, including an acceptable record keeping system; and have facilities and procedures that meet all regulatory requirements. Chairs joint FAA-industry meetings; maintains regular contact with organizations assigned; and coordinates with top management officials. Requires or directs correction of any deficiencies/discrepancies and refuses or withdraws approval of they cannot be resolved.

Responsible for the conduct of enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition. Performs or supervises the emergency suspension of certificates or cancellations of operations specifications. Conducts or directs the reexamination of certificated airmen or recertification of an operator or agency.

Conducts investigations of public complaints, congressional inquiries and aircraft incident and accidents.

Provides verbal and/or written technical assistance to legal counsel, testifies at court trials and formal hearings and gives depositions.

Coordinates Minimum Equipment List (MEL) approvals with the principal airworthiness inspectors. Takes enforcement action in instances of noncompliance with the MEL.

May be assigned other duties and responsibilities which are nongraded controlling.

Performs other duties as required.

A. Technical Administration

Develops new or innovative standards practices and procedures to address highly technical issues; as well as identifies the need for and recommends changes to national policies and procedures for certification and surveillance compliance.

Chairs joint FAA-industry meetings; explains, negotiates, and settles highly controversial and critical issues with key officials, including internal organizations, industry training organizations, and labor groups.

Prepares technical and other pertinent correspondence, responds to congressional inquiries; testifies at court trials and formal hearings resolving highly complex compliance, regulatory matters, and public complaints.

Provides advice and recommendations to Flight Standards and aviation safety initiatives to increase safety; provide training to inspectors.

Develops and implements thorough and well thought out plans regarding the management of risk in general aviation rotorcraft/helicopter operations.

The employee works with technically advanced helicopters for large operators or has oversight over large helicopter air ambulance operators. As the principal representative in regulatory surveillance of air carrier activities, exercises certificate authority over rotorcraft air carriers with very extensive and complex operations. Analyzes flight operations involving large fleets of rotorcraft aircraft.

B. Certification

Evaluates training programs to ensure they meet the requirements of 14 CFR. Manages reliability team efforts during the development of the standards and procedures pertaining to training programs.

Reviews and approves or disapproves carriers technical procedures/manuals and revisions to such. May require amendments to previously approved documents to accomplish the following: correct any conflict with regulatory requirements; eliminate unsafe practices; and/or improve the specificity of instruction.

Evaluates training programs to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Approves or disapproves these training programs.

Approves/disapproves designation of check airmen and makes recommendations on the appointment of designees.

Requirements

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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).
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Security Requirement: Moderate Risk (5). This position requires completion and favorable adjudication of a background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained. (Subject to a five-year period of reinvestigation).
• In-grade/downgrade applications will be accepted.

Qualifications

OPM Qualifications Standard for Aviation Safety Series, FG-1825 Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

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 Rotorcraft-Helicopter: 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 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

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must meet the specialized experience requirements as outlined below:

1. Minimum 100 flight hours in Rotorcraft-Helicopter in the last three years;
2. Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating with Instrument, or Airline Transport Pilot with Helicopter Rating;
3. Flight Instructor Certificate Rotorcraft Helicopter, Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter rating;
4. 1,200 hours of total time requirements (1,000 in actual flight conditions, 250 hours of night flight in which 15 are in a helicopter);
5. 250 hours of flight time in helicopters, which includes at least 75 hours as a pilot in command, or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination thereof;
6. 500 hours of cross-country flight time;
7. 75 hours of instrument flight time in actual or simulated instrument meteorological conditions, of which at least 50 hours are obtained in flight with at least 25 hours in helicopters as pilot in command or as second in command performing the duties of a pilot in command under the supervision of a pilot in command, or any combination.

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

Certificates and Ratings:

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

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 Operations Rotorcraft-Helicopter 1825 series position.

Specialized Experience: 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 for this position in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position. Specialized experience includes: Experience investigating the safety and compliance of rotorcraft-helicopter operations; providing technical guidance on rotorcraft-helicopter policies, procedures and regulations; and reviewing and evaluating training and certification programs. Additional experience may be in reporting on accidents, incidents, and violations.

FOR OPERATIONS:

1. Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating w/Instrument Rating or Airline Transport Pilot w/Helicopter Rating; And 2. Flight Instructor Certificate Rotorcraft Helicopter, Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter Rating. 3. A valid second class Medical Certificate is required for this position.

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.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Leadership and Management Dimensions listed in the announcement. 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

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Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.

Position may be subject to a background investigation.

A one-year probationary period may be required.

The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements

For Lateral Movements Between 1825 Specialties: Check sheets are contained in Order 3410.26, Flight Standards Service Air Carrier and General Aviation Qualifications Assessment Tool for AFS Aviation Safety Inspectors. This order is located at: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/3410.26.pdf

Interviews: If the agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.

Transition Check Ride: Successful completion of a Transition Check Ride may be required for this position.

Salary: Salary iscovered by the PASS/AVS Bargaining Contract.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Your application/resume MUST have your official title, grade and series on your work history.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.