The Principal Oversight Inspector (POI) is responsible for applying knowledge of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, and procedures for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) field personnel and the public governing all matters to general aviation operations safety issues.
Aviation Safety Series, 1825 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. Applicants must be physically able to perform the duties of the ASI position in a safe and efficient manner, with or without a reasonable accommodation. The minimum medical requirements include the following: a. Have good distance vision in each eye and be able to read, without strain, printed materials the size of typewritten characters (glasses and contact lenses permitted); b. Have the ability to hear the conversational voice (hearing aid permitted); and c. Not have any physical conditions that would cause them to be a hazard to themselves or others or that would interfere with their ability to operate/occupy a flight deck observer’s seat (jumpseat) or a cabin passenger seat in a variety of aircraft. In addition to meeting the basic and medical requirements, applicants must meet the following additional qualification requirements: a. Must hold a valid or expired Flight Instructor Certificate with an aircraft category rating or have experience serving as an instructor as part of an approved program or course (e.g., Title 14 CFR Part 121, 135, 141, or 142, or Uniformed Services) which provided instruction in an aircraft or an approved flight simulation training device representing an aircraft. Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in an aircraft, an approved flight simulation training device representing an aircraft, or a combination of both. b. Must hold a valid Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument airplane rating. c. Three years of experience working in an organization with an air carrier, commercial operator, or air agency certificate, an organization whose work has led to the certification of individual airmen, or an organization that operated aircraft. d. Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours. e. Possession of airplane category and single-engine and multi-engine land (airplane) ratings. f. Not more than two flying accidents in the last five years in which the applicant’s pilot error was involved. To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FG/GS-12 as an Aviation Safety Inspector (GAO). 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 includes the following: Work involves monitoring and issuing certificates to a large complex aviation organization or several smaller organizations that, in total, are comparable in complexity to one large aviation organization. Work at this grade level/pay band is typically reviewed from an overall standpoint for accuracy, consistency, and effectiveness in meeting requirements. For Lateral Movements Between 1825 Specialties: To assist in determining qualification requirements, applicants transferring between specialties at the same grade level are strongly encouraged to complete the appropriate Qualifications Assessment Tool (QAT) check sheet and upload it along with their resume. 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 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. 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 Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) 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. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability.
Note: Flight Oversight ASIs do not conduct certification (pilot evaluating, testing, and checking) job functions as a required crewmember, including safety pilot. The incumbent will not, in any scenario, act as a required crewmember or safety pilot of an aircraft. Flight Oversight ASIs apply a broad knowledge of the aviation industry, aviation safety, and Federal aviation laws, regulations, and policies. The POI will serve as the primary oversight interface between assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, designees, and the FAA. Has program responsibility to assure that assigned organizations meet 14 CFR with respect to oversight programs. Provides policy assistance to field level ASIs on difficult or complex policy interpretations. The POI will issue certificates to and monitor (1) a large and complex aviation organization or (2) several smaller organizations that, together, are comparable in complexity to one large one. They are the primary contact point with the aviation organization(s). They may decide on issuance of the original certificates. They evaluate and decide upon proposals to change the authorized programs of the organizations. They continuously monitor the activities of organizations to determine whether they are following their authorized program, Federal regulations, and good safety practices. Assignments are characterized by one or more of the following: Multiengine turboprop and turbojet aircraft; A variety of flight oversight tasks with diverse types of aircraft which may include turbine powered aircraft or unmanned aircraft; or Novel and complex aviation oversight. The POI will plan and conduct assignments with substantial technical independence and receive administrative and policy guidance from supervisors and policy makers. The POI will obtain technical advice from higher-level inspectors who have overall program responsibility. The POI will independently plan and carry out a work program to meet the needs and monitor the activities of the organizations for which they have certification responsibility. The scope and complexity of the work program may be such as to require the occasional assistance of other employees to conduct inspections and evaluate operations. The POI will apply mastery level knowledge of the appropriate specialization and a broad knowledge of the line of business mission and goals to assigned programs and areas of responsibility. The POI will plan and direct the use of time and resources to accomplish organizational objectives and will define, organize, and use resources to accomplish work activities within established schedules. Analyze program requirements and accomplishments and make or direct adjustments as necessary to address organizational needs. Guidelines and precedents are frequently inadequate for dealing with novel or complex oversight. The POI will apply the basic principles of aviation safety and interpret the intent of the regulations. Contacts are frequently with owners and top managers of aviation corporations and involve negotiating and resolving the full range of issues and problems that confront large aviation organizations. Occasionally issues are controversial, arousing considerable public interest. The ASI will participate extensively in the certification inspection and surveillance of highly complex air carrier oversight where principal program responsibility is vested in an aviation safety inspector of higher grade. The employee will have broad authority to negotiate with carrier management and make technical determinations within the coverage of approved specifications and policy manuals. The POI will provide guidance to field level staff to solve difficult technical issues and will resolves all but unique problems with the intervention of management or a technical specialist. Develop plans, techniques, and policies to address current and anticipated problems and issues. Works with management to solve problems. Performs other duties as assigned.