Airport Certification and Safety Inspector

Airport Certification and Safety Inspector

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): Queens, New York

Salary Range: $130423 - $202195 Per Year

Job Summary: This position serves as the Lead Airport Certification Safety Inspector (ACSI) responsible for 14 CFR Part 139 compliance for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports (ARP), Eastern Regional Airports Division.

Major Duties:

• Performs multiple, varying and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager as the Lead Airport Certification Safety Inspector (ACSI). This position applies experience and comprehensive technical knowledge to serve as a Regional primary point of contact in the area of airport certification and safety. Advises airport management on new requirements and developments in the airport certification program. Conducts periodic and surveillance inspections at Part 139 certified airports including medium to large hub airports to ensure compliance with standards for 14 CFR Part 139 in the areas of records, personnel, paved areas, unpaved areas, safety areas, marking signs, and lighting, snow and ice control, aircraft rescue and firefighting, handling and storing of hazardous substances and materials, traffic and wind direction indicators, airport emergency plan, self-inspection program, pedestrians and ground vehicles, obstructions, protection of NAVAIDS, public protection, wildlife hazard management, airport condition reporting, and identifying, marking and lighting construction and other unserviceable areas. Reviews and approves Airport Certification Manuals and emergency plans required by regulation to ensure current and adequate airport operating procedures. Recommends approval or denial of applications for Airport Operating Certificates (AOC). Investigates known or alleged violations of the regulations in accordance with current agency directives. Coordinates directly with management to initiate revocation or suspension of AOC in accordance with agency guidelines. Reviews and evaluates petitions from airport owners for exemptions from any or all of 14 CFR Part 139 requirements. Coordinates recommended exemption requests with regional Division Manager and FAA Headquarters. Conducts investigations of vehicle/pedestrian deviations at airports and evaluate results for closure or enforcement (administrative or legal). Conducts reviews of Construction Safety Phasing Plans and conducts inspections of airports to ensure operational safety during construction meets current standards. Reviews and approves wildlife hazard assessments and wildlife hazard management plans at Part 139 airports and works closely with the airports, wildlife biologists, other technical experts and stakeholders to reduce hazardous wildlife and attractants on and in the vicinity of airports. Investigates potential regulatory violations and initiates administrative or legal enforcement actions, as appropriate. Works cooperatively with FAA management and legal counsel in processing legal enforcement cases. Supports investigations of an aircraft accident or incident on or near an airport as a subject matter expert. May be called upon to serve as a member of an Accident Investigation Board. Works in collaboration with division staff and other FAA organizations to improve surface safety at airports by reviewing or investigating the factors leading to surface incidents, runway incursions, and aircraft excursions. Collaborates with Regional and Local Runway Safety Action Teams by providing 14 CFR Part 139 expertise and assisting in the development of airport runway safety action plans. Reviews and provides comments on policies, procedures, standards, guidance, and other instructions issued by Headquarters. Conducts Runway Safety Area inventories, which may include physical inspection of a safety area to determine what is installed and if it meets agency standards. In coordination with management ensures the regional Airport Certification Program is carried out in accordance with the Airport Certification Program Handbook, and the FAA's Compliance and Enforcement Program. Reviews and verifies individual airport layout plans, obstruction charts, safety equipment descriptions, construction drawings and documents related to certification requirements. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position all applicants must demonstrate in their application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must be at least equivalent to the next lower grade or band level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. To qualify for this position at the FV-J level, all applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13 level. Examples of specialized experience for this position include experience in: 1) Experience with conducting inspections at airports to ensure operational safety and/or compliance with FAA standards and regulation; 2) Experience with reviewing and approving Airport Certification Manuals and emergency plans required by regulation to ensure current and adequate airport operating procedures; 3) Experience in reviewing and verifying individual airport layout plans, obstruction charts, safety equipment descriptions, construction drawings and documents related to certification requirements; 4) Experience in conducting reviews and approvals of wildlife hazard assessments and wildlife hazards management plans and; 5) Experience with investigating potential regulatory violations and initiating administrative or legal enforcement actions, as appropriate. 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 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. Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job. Applicants must apply on-line for employment consideration.

How to Apply: Applicants may be required to complete one or multiple assessments as part of the evaluation process. This assessment aims to evaluate the competencies and qualifications essential for the position. You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register. RESUMES ARE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES. IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC AND INCLUDE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION. We strongly encourage applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes. Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Relevant work experience: should align to the Job Announcement and address all required qualifications and include job title, employer name, start/end dates, number of hours worked per week. Education, certification or licensure: If required, education should include school/institution name, completion date, degree type and GPA. Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible. You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Please see this guide, Document Upload Guide, for more information on uploading and re-using the documents in your applications.

Application Deadline: 2025-12-24