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Aviation Safety Inspector

Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
AVS, Flight Standards Service, General Aviation Safety Assurance Office, San Antonio FSDO (SWSD17)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) is responsible for applying substantial knowledge of and
experience with 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 maintenance safety issues.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/03/2025 to 04/23/2025
Salary
$126,361 to - $164,268 per year

Salary range includes 18.78% locality pay. Locality pay is subject to change.

Pay scale & grade
FG 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
San Antonio, TX
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational telework may be permitted in accordance with agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - The job may require up to 25% travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
No
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes - This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services.
Announcement number
AAL-AVS-25-AKDC-94795
Control number
834631700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Open to current FAA employees

Duties

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The PMI receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or
functions. The PMI, mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or
other work. The PMI provides policy assistance to field level Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) on
difficult or complex policy interpretations. The work is normally accepted without change. Completed
work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have
been fulfilled.
Some FG-14 assignments involve Service wide responsibility for application of expert knowledge of
general aviation maintenance. Other FG-14 inspectors establish technical procedures and performance
yardsticks and review maintenance programs, or who have problems of comparable scope and
complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are
of great scope and unusual complexity and the organizations monitored are major factors in the industry.
ASIs at the FG-14 level establish technical procedures and performance indexes and review complete
maintenance programs for general aviation organizations who are leaders in the aviation industry, or
who have problems of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general
aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity.

FG-14 employees evaluate maintenance programs for organizations which utilize complex aircraft,
systems, and equipment. Because of organizational complexity or the advanced technology incorporated
in the aircraft, systems, and equipment, employees must exercise originality to resolve unique problems.

The PMI plans and directs the use of time and resources to accomplish organizational objectives. He or
she defines, organizes, and uses resources to accomplish work activities within established schedules,
analyzes program requirements and accomplishments, and makes or directs adjustments as necessary to
address organizational needs.
Decisions typically have broad impact on the operation or maintenance of a particular type of advanced
aircraft, major air carriers, or a geographic area containing a variety of novel and/or complex aviation
operations. Decisions also have a significant effect on the safety of the flying public.

FG-14 employees have critically important and frequently controversial contacts with key officials of
major manufacturers, major carriers, and general aviation organizations.

Contacts are internal and external to the agency. The PMI occasionally represents the agency as a point of
contact for policy development, inspection activities or as a technical trainer/instructor delivering formal
training.

The PMI is expected to follow established laws, orders, policies, and regulations that provide general
guidance for completing work objectives, but is allowed considerable discretion to develop new or
innovative approaches.

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).
  • Position is designated as Moderate Risk; a background investigation may be required

Qualifications

General Requirements for All 1825 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.

In addition, applicants must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-I/FG-13 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 defined as: Assisting, conducting or performing various technical functions related to certification, surveillance, investigation and compliance recommendation of maintenance activities on FAR Part 135 air carriers/air operators.

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.

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 for this position and may not be substituted for experience.

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 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

The FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives 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 or Leadership and Management Dimension. In lieu of providing a response, please include WORK HISTORY IN YOUR RESUME THAT DESCRIBES HOW YOU MEET THE ANSWER YOU CHOSE FOR EACH SECTION. Please include specific examples and details which illustrate your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Please include applicable date ranges.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be placed in alphabetical order and referred to the selecting official for consideration.

In-grade/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.

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by PASS: Flight Standards Services.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

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.

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