DIRECT HIRE - Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation Operations)

DIRECT HIRE - Aviation Safety Inspector (General Aviation Operations)

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: $59759 - $99404 Per Year

Job Summary: Join the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a General Aviation Operations Inspector. The FAA is a work environment rich in opportunity, teamwork, and work life balance. Benefits such as weekends off, paid holidays, steady work hours, sick/annual leave, health insurance, and more. Begin a rewarding career with the FAA and be a part of a select group of individuals whose mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.

Major Duties:

• The Federal Aviation Administration will be participating in the Career Fair during the Lakeland Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, FL from April 14-19, 2026. FAA representatives will conduct interviews that are pre-scheduled and by appointment only. For consideration, apply to this announcement. If found qualified, a FAA representative may contact you with additional instructions for in-person interview. Attending the Expo is not required to apply nor to be considered for this position. All applications will be reviewed and proceed through the standard selection process. A Recruitment Incentive of $25,000 may be offered to applicants with a signed three-year FAA Recruitment Incentive Service Agreement. Locations must be considered hard to fill and not all locations are eligible. You will be notified of eligibility in your offer letter. Aviation Safety Inspectors in this specialty (General Aviation Operations) apply knowledge and skills typically acquired as airmen (pilots, navigators, flight instructors, etc.) to develop and administer regulations and safety standards pertaining to the operation of aircraft. Candidate must complete an extensive training program to include formal and on-the-job training up to and possibly 24 months regardless of grade level. Duties at the FG-12 grade level include but are not limited to the following: Examining airmen for initial certification and continuing competence; Evaluating airmen training programs, equipment and facilities; and Evaluating the operational aspect of programs of air carriers and similar commercial and aviation operations for adequacy of facilities, equipment, procedures and overall management to ensure safe operation of the aircraft. Duties at the FG-11 grade level include but are not limited to the following: Assisting in enforcement investigations and preparation of final reports and recommendations on disposition; and Providing assistance in the evaluation of air carriers, air agencies air operators. Duties at the FG-9 grade level are closely supervised and include but are not limited to the following: Assisting in evaluating training programs to ensure that they meet the requirements of the FARs under close supervision; and Assisting in the re-examination of certificated airmen or recertification of an operator or agency. Aviation Safety Inspectors (General Aviation Operations) may perform a variety of other inspections, investigations, and advisory duties; however, the primary requirement for positions in this specialization is knowledge and skill in the operation of aircraft. Candidate will be required to participate in the flight program as an aircrew member and, as such, must meet the medical and flight currency requirements as set forth in agency orders governing the operation of aircraft. Inspectors are required to travel frequently and to occasionally work irregular duty hours.

Qualifications: OPM Qualifications Standard for Aviation Safety Series, FG-1825 MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: (A) Not more than two separate incidents involving Federal Aviation regulations violations in the last 5 years; (B) Valid State driver`s license; (C) Fluency in the English language; (D) No chemical dependencies or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance; and (E) High school diploma or equivalent. Aviation Safety Inspector positions have job-related medical requirements. When applicable, applicants MUST meet job-related medical requirements which will be assessed and validated during the pre-employment process. Medical Requirements: 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower level at the FG-7, FG-9, FG-11, or FG-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. Applicants should include examples of specialized experience in their work history. In addition, applicants MUST meet all of the following: (A) Valid, unexpired Flight Instructor Certificate with single and multi-engine airplane and instrument airplane ratings. The applicant must have given a minimum of 200 hours of flight instruction in an aircraft; (B) Professional flying skill as demonstrated in a flight check to Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument rating; (C) Possession of Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument airplane rating; (D) Minimum of 100 flight hours within the last 3 years; (E) Minimum of 1,500 total flight hours; (F) Possession of single and multi-engine land airplane ratings; and (G) Not more than 2 flying accidents in the last 5 years in which the applicant's pilot error was involved. Specialized experience at the FG-12 grade level involves a wide range of assignments or a few highly complex assignments, requiring planning and organization, setting priorities and working without clear or specific guidelines. Work at this level is typically reviewed only to assess the impact on overall organizational objectives, for example: Aircrew Program Designee for a Part 135 or 121 operator Director of Operations or Assistant Director of Operations for a Part 121 operator Specialized experience at the FG-11 grade level involves a broad scope of responsibility, more variety, and less clear guidelines. Work at this level is typically subject to review to assure compliance with organized policies or regulations, and specific guidelines to ensure compliance with organizational policies or regulations, for example: Chief Pilot, Assistant Chief Pilot, or Domicile Chief Pilot for a Part 91, 91K, 125, 129, or 135 operator Chief Flight Instructor or Assistant Chief Flight Instructor in Part 141 pilot school or 142 training center. Line Check Airman, Line Check Pilot, or Check Airman for a Part 91K, 121, 125, 129, or 135 operator Specialized experience at the FG-9 grade level involves assignments involving familiar aircraft, facilities, and equipment. Work at this level is typically subject to review and specific guidelines to ensure compliance with instructions, for example: Pilot-in-command for a Title 14 CFR Part 91K, 121, 125, 129, or 135 operator. Simulator/Flight Instructor in Part 141 pilot school or 142 training center Specialized experience at the FG-7 grade level involves developmental assignments which assist employees of higher grade. Work at this level is typically subject to close review and specific guidelines to ensure compliance with instructions, for example: Second-in-command for Title 14 CFR Part 91, 91K, 121, 125, 129, or 135 operator. Conducting flight instruction under part 61. We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

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. 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: 2026-03-11