Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft-Helicopter)

Summary

The Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft/Helicopter) performs the full range of General Aviation certification, surveillance and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees. The Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) has program responsibility to assure assigned organizations meet Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) with respect to operations programs and in the establishment of work programs for inspection and surveillance.

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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.

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

Coordinates with geographic inspectors for the accomplishment of non-routine air carrier and air operator surveillance.

Certification:

Approves/accepts or disapproves/rejects manuals, school curriculum, 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 and procedures manuals to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

Approves or disapproves training programs including flight simulators, training devices, or other such equipment used in these programs.

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

Evaluates operations and facilities by on-site inspections and review of reports by geographic inspectors or others. Negotiates changes essential or desirable in their policies and procedures. Determines the appropriate methods and/or plans for securing corrective action and determines through on-site inspection or inspector reports the effectiveness of any action.

Evaluates and approves/disapproves requests to operate under conditions not previously authorized and may prescribe additional conditions and limitations as appropriate.

Evaluates Helicopter Air Ambulance Operators to determine compliance with 14 CFR.

Approves the original issuance of operations specifications and issues original operating certificates. Approves amendments to operations specifications. Evaluates the safety of proposed changes in route or airport authorizations; prescribes any changes required before approval.

Directs or participates in proving flight evaluations to determine compliance with 14 CFR. Recommends changes that will be required prior to approval.

Surveillance:

Monitors all phases of operations including training programs and records; base and station facilities; rotorcraft/helicopter external load operations; air tour operations; Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) operations; and route systems. Coordinates with and reviews reports from geographic inspectors and others to identify trends which indicate deterioration in the safety of operations. Directs or suggests changes required to correct such trends.

Monitors the activities of designated examiners, check airmen and instructors.

Performs other duties as assigned.

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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).
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Ingrade/Downgrade applications will be accepted.
• If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.
• Successful completion of a Transitional Check Ride may be required.
  
  
  

Qualifications

General Requirements for All 1825 Positions:

• Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal Aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years
• Valid State driver's license
• Fluency in the English language
• No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance, and
• 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:

• 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);
• Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and
• 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:

• Possess a valid second – class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations; and
• 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:

• Provide documentation from a board-certified physician certifying that they meet the minimal medical requirements; or
• 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 Rotorcraft-Helicopter, applicants for ASI (Operations, Roto-Heli) positions must meet all of the following requirements:

• Minimum 100 flight hours in Rotorcraft-Helicopter in the last three years.
• Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating with Instrument or Airline Transport Pilot with Helicopter Rating.
• Flight Instructor Certificate Rotorcraft-Helicopter, Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter Rating.
• 1,200 hours of total time requirements (1,000 in actual flight conditions, 250 hours of night flight in which 15 hours are in a helicopter).
• Flight time requirement in helicopters of 250 hours, which includes at least 75 hours as a pilot-in- command, or as second-in-command performing duties of a pilot-in-command under the supervision of a pilot- in-command, or any combination thereof.
• Cross-country flight time requirement of 500 hours.
• Instrument flight time requirement of 75 hours 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 thereof.
  
  
  

To qualify you must also demonstrate that you possess at least one year 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 is:

• Evaluates and decides upon proposals to change the authorized programs of organizations.
• Monitors on a continual basis the activities of organizations to determine whether they are following their authorized program, Federal regulations, and good safety practices.
• Participates extensively in the certification inspection and surveillance of highly complex aviation operations where principal program responsibility is vested in a higher-graded/pay-banded aviation safety inspector.
• Exercises broad authority to negotiate with carrier management and make technical determinations within the coverage of approved specifications and policy manuals.
• Carries out assignments that primarily require knowledge of flight operation of a particular type of rotary wing aircraft or large turbojet aircraft.
• Analyzes pilot training; gives flight tests and proficiency checks to pilots and other airmen, and evaluates schools that train airmen to operate a particular type of aircraft.
• Exercises certificate authority for flight operations or maintenance over one or more air carrier, contract operators, and air travel clubs that collectively employ a fleet of large turbine powered aircraft.
• Approves the airworthiness of aircraft; adequacy of maintenance programs; training programs for mechanics, repairmen, pilots, and other flight personnel; nature and scope of the operation (e.g., the kind of cargo, passenger, and geographic area covered); adequacy of maintenance facilities and airports; and overall adequacy of the organization in terms of safety.
• Monitors, plans, or conducts inspection programs including periodic en route and ramp inspections.
• Receives information and follows up on any changes in the approved program.
• Receives and follows up on complaints about organization(s) for which they are responsible.
• Evaluates and approves or disapproves applications by maintenance facilities for approved repair station certificates and ratings; deciding whether facilities, equipment, materials, personnel, inspections methods and maintenance practices, and techniques are satisfactory to ensure airworthiness of aircraft.
• Evaluates broad program elements of flight operation or maintenance activities of an air carrier and decides upon modification or additions to operating procedures and policy guides.
• Recommends approval or disapproval of certificate amendments and substantial changes in operating specifications to a senior aviation safety inspector who is the principal representative for the carrier.
• Plans and conducts inspections and surveillance of assigned area of carrier operations to ensure compliance with Federal Aviation regulations.
• Negotiates with carrier officials on violations, deficiencies, and other action items.
• Conducts initial certification and periodic flight checks of airmen operating multiengine rotary wing aircraft using advanced instrument flight techniques.
• Evaluates and, in some cases, issues certificates to flight and ground schools that provide training in the operation of that type of aircraft.
• Issues waivers for experimental aircraft, air shows, or other unusual aviation operations. Makes initial determination of limitations and conditions.
• Issues certificates to, and monitors, one or more on-demand and/or executive operations that characteristically involve factors of special difficulty, such as: Operation over a large territory (several States or major cities); 24/7; Diverse types of rotary wing aircraft including turbine-powered or multiengine; and/or Unpredictable variations from month to month regarding the scope of operations, personnel, and aircraft involved.
• Provides extensive technical and regulatory guidance to persons desiring to enter the aviation business, and advice and assistance to operations in dealing with their day-to-day problems.
  
  
  

The recency of specialized experience is waived for current FAA employees in the 1825 series.

Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history.

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.

Education

Education is not qualifying and may not be substituted for this position.

Preview Job Questionnaire

Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

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 U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family.

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

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 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 WORK HISTORY THAT DESCRIBES HOW YOU MEET THE 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. 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 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA); listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

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Federal Aviation Administration

AEA Regional HR Services Branch

1 Aviation Plaza, Room 207

AHF-N610

Jamaica, NY 11434

US