Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) (GA Principal Maintenance Inspector)
The Principal Inspector (Maintenance) General Aviation/Part 135 functions as the primary airworthiness interface between assigned air carriers/air operators/air agencies/airmen/designees and the Federal Aviation Administration. Has program responsibility to assure that assigned organizations meet Federal Aviation Regulations with respect to maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration programs. Determines the need for, and then establishes work programs for surveillance. Duties Assures on a continuing basis that assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped; have and conduct 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 if they cannot be resolved.Develops maintenance program requirements through participation on Maintenance Review Boards. Coordinates Minimum Equipment List (MEL) approvals with the principal operations inspector. Takes enforcement action in instances of noncompliance with the MEL.Is 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 cancellation 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 incidents and accidents. Provides verbal and/or written technical assistance to legal counsel, testifies at court trials and formal hearings, and gives depositions. Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of non-routine air carrier surveillance.Has responsibility for initial and ongoing certification of air carriers, aircraft, airmen, and agencies. Makes recommendations on the appointment of designees.Evaluates requests to operate under conditions not previously specified in the maintenance portion of the operations specifications and approves or disapproves requests and provides additional conditions and limitations as needed.Provides guidance to the assigned air carrier in the development of required maintenance manuals and record keeping systems. Reviews and determines adequacy of manuals associated with the air carriers maintenance programs and revisions thereto. Assures that manuals and revisions comply with regulatory requirements, prescribe safe practices, and furnish clear and specific instructions governing maintenance programs. Approves operations specifications and amendments thereto.Determines if the maintenance facilities being established or contract arrangements entered into by air carriers for purpose of overhaul work, major repairs, alterations, and other maintenance are satisfactory. Reviews changes and negotiates with air carrier management to resolve problems.Directs or participates in proving flight evaluations to determine compliance with the FARs. Recommends changes that will be required prior to approval.Analyzes reports submitted by the air carrier to insure compliance with the maintenance program and assures the air carrier has an effective continuing analysis and surveillance program to meet the requirements of the FARs.General technical and administrative supervision is provided by (an assigned supervisor within the district office). Is independently responsible for all regulatory, certification, and/or surveillance activities conducted within assigned tasks and responsibilities. Actions taken are guided by adherence to both national and regional FAA directives, Federal Aviation Regulations, and sound management practices.
Requirements 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.
- Security Requirement: This moderate risk public trust (Level 5) position requires a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) for Moderate Risk.
Qualifications OPM General Schedule Qualification Standards for Aviation Safety Series, 1825General Requirements for All Positions:
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:
When the predominant work involves general aviation maintenance, applicants for Aviation Safety Inspector (Airworthiness) positions must meet all of the following requirements:
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. Therefore, applicants must submit a copy of their certificate and ratings unless they 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 and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.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.Note: Recency of specialized experience is waived for current and former FAA employees in the 1825 series.QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT.Knowledge, Skill, and Ability (KSA): 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 section, 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. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses. Required Documents All FAA employees MUST submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50). Applicants must submit a copy of their certificate and ratings unless they 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.Applicants are reminded that Form SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) is required and NOT Form SF-52 (Request for Personnel Action).rdquo; If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.