Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft-Helicopter)

Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft-Helicopter)

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): San Juan, Puerto Rico, Salt Lake City, Utah, Herndon, Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, Renton, Washington, Spokane, Washington, Charleston, West Virginia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Casper, Wyoming, Vestavia Hills, Alabama, Anchorage, Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, Scottsdale, Arizona, Little Rock, Arkansas, Alameda, California, Fresno, California, Lawndale, California, Long Beach, California, Riverside, California, Sacramento, California, San Diego, California, San Jose, California, Van Nuys, California, Denver, Colorado, Enfield, Connecticut, Miramar, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Tampa, Florida, Hapeville, Georgia, Honolulu, Hawaii, Boise, Idaho, Des Plaines, Illinois, Springfield, Illinois, West Chicago, Illinois, Plainfield, Indiana, Ankeny, Iowa, Wichita, Kansas, Louisville, Kentucky, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Portland, Maine, Glen Burnie, Maryland, Burlington, Massachusetts, Belleville, Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jackson, Mississippi, Kansas City, Missouri, Saint Ann, Missouri, Helena, Montana, Lincoln, Nebraska, Las Vegas, Nevada, Reno, Nevada, Saddle Brook, New Jersey, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Farmingdale, New York, Garden City, New York, Latham, New York, Rochester, New York, Charlotte, North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina, Fargo, North Dakota, Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, North Olmsted, Ohio, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Hillsboro, Oregon, Allentown, Pennsylvania, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, West Columbia, South Carolina, Rapid City, South Dakota, Memphis, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, Houston, Texas, Irving, Texas, Lubbock, Texas, San Antonio, Texas

Salary Range: $125776 - $197200 Per Year

Job Summary: Aviation Safety Inspector (Rotorcraft-Helicopter) is assigned to lead a Flight Standardization Boards (FSB) and Flight Operation Evaluation Boards (FOEB) for assigned aircraft. Responsible for applying expert knowledge of and experience with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, procedures for FAA field personnel and the public governing.

Major Duties:

• Provides the flight operations emphasis and crew representation in all phases of developmental work involved prior to certification and subsequent to placing such aircraft into service regarding modifications, upgrades, and operational issues. Evaluates detailed flight characteristics of the aircraft in order to establish training requirements, which will be used as standards and guidelines for operations inspectors in evaluating and approving training programs. Likewise, incumbent must develop a detailed knowledge of the aircraft's instrument and component systems in order to develop a sound and reasonable list of minimum instruments and equipment to be required for initial dispatch of the aircraft to ensure operational safety of the aircraft. Incumbent is also responsible to provide information to aviation safety inspectors on all modification and procedural changes to the aircraft in order to attain optimum safety and efficiency in its operation. The incumbent has contacts at all levels within Flight Standards Service and Aircraft Certification Service. Contacts involve industry representatives including pilots, operators and/or personnel in charge of flight-testing for aircraft manufacturers. Contacts are also with foreign government aviation officials and manufacturers on an international basis. These contacts will be for the purpose of coordinating and resolving problems imposed by certification and operations requirements, coordinating equipment and training requirements, and for the exchange of essential information. Serves as a member of the Type Certification Board, Flight Test Group and as advisor to the aircraft certification on flight operation problems involved in the certification processes of newly designed aircraft preparatory to the aircraft being type certificated and introduced into service. In this capacity, the incumbent will prepare recommendations for amendments to the regulations or proposed special crew training requirements or procedures for aircraft when needed, participate in the development of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved aircraft flight manuals, and represent the Flight Standards Service in the flight tests leading to type certification and service evaluation of the aircraft. Serve as a representative of the Flight Standards Service and leader of the Flight Standardization Board, the incumbent will recommend to the appropriate Flight Standards division the appropriate pilot certificate type rating and specific training program standards to be used for training of flight crews or FAA inspectors receiving training in aircraft. Determines safe limits of required maneuvers based on flight test results, and reviews flight test evaluations for possible unsafe characteristics of the aircraft. Serves as Flight Standards Service representative and leader of the Flight Operations Evaluation Board to determine minimum aircraft instruments and equipment required for dispatch or continuance of flight. Keeps abreast of all modifications, changes, and technical advances for assigned aircraft to assure continued safe operation. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates problem areas and initiates action to correct technical deficiencies associated with the operation and pilot training of the assigned aircraft. Works with operators introducing new aircraft into service to assure that FAA keeps abreast of current operational problems. Participates in the flight program as an aircrew member and, as such, must meet the medical and flight currency requirements in accordance with FAA policies and guidance. Performs other certification activities, pilot evaluations/competencies, and enroute inspections when required. Provides expert consultation in support of accident or incident investigations, analysis, and implementation of corrective actions related to the particular aircraft assigned. Requested to act as an aircraft specific course mentor and provide feedback.

Qualifications: 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 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. Specialized Experience Requirements for All Grade Levels/Pay Bands. In addition to meeting the basic and medical requirements, applicants must meet the following specialized experience requirements: a. Must hold an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating or a Commercial Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating and Instrument-Helicopter rating. b. Must hold a valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating and Instrument Helicopter rating. c. Minimum 1,500 total flight hours in an aircraft as pilot-in-command or second-in-command, 1,000 hours of which must be in helicopters. d. Must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in a helicopter. e. Minimum 100 flight hours in helicopters as pilot-in-command or second-in-command or 100 hours as pilot in a Level D Simulator that replicates a helicopter, or any combination thereof, during the last five (5) years. f. Not more than two (2) flying accidents in the last five (5) 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 FV-13, FG/GS-I grade levels. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Experience includes assisting, conducting, or performing various technical functions on certification activities for CFR27, normal category Rotorcraft & CFR Part 29 transport category Rotorcraft & Supporting Helicopter specific CFR Part 135,61,141,133,136 & 137 Operations including Helicopter restricted category operations. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

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: 2026-02-02