AVIATOR - Preview

Commitment to the United States Government

The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.

2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.

3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.

4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

5. I certify I am using my own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

Your Resume

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Your Documents

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USAJOBS Profile

Are you a U.S. Citizen or national?

Have you accepted a buyout from a Federal agency within the past 5 years?

Have you served in the U.S. Armed Forces?

Veterans' Preference:

Military Service Period Dates:

Geographic Preferences

Are you willing to work at the following duty location:

Maryland - Linthicum Heights

Applicant-Preferred Conditions of Employment and Federal Service

1. What is the lowest grade or payband that you wish to be considered for:

2a. Are you currently a permanent FAA employee?

2b. Are you currently a temporary FAA employee?

2c. Are you currently a temporary FAA employee serving under the Retired Military Air Traffic Controllers Program?

2d. Are you a DOT employee working in an agency other than the FAA and have completed a one year probationary period or trial period?

3. Are you a:

Former permanent employee of the FAA who had successfully completed a one-year probationary period OR
Current or former permanent civilian employee from other competitive or excepted service agencies who have completed a one-year probationary period or trial period in the competitive or excepted service.

4. Are you a preference eligible and/or veteran who was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active service?
Definitions of Preference Eligible and Active Service.

5. Do any of your relatives work for the agency or government organization to which you are submitting this application? (Include: father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, and half sister.)

5a. If question #5 is yes, please provide the relative(s)' name, relationship, and department, agency, or branch of the Armed Forces for which your relative(s) works in the space below.

6. If you heard about this job through one of our recruiting events, please enter your event code.

Basic Qualifications

1. Do you hold or have you ever held an Aviation Safety Inspector (1825) position?

2. How many separate incidents involving Federal Aviation Regulations violations do you have within the last five years?

3. Do you have a valid State driver's license?

4. Are you fluent in the English Language?

5. Are you a high school graduate or equivalent?

6. Do you have a chemical dependency or drug abuse that could interfere with job performance?

7a. Do you have 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?

7b. If yes, how many hours of flight instruction in an aircraft, an approved flight simulation training device representing an aircraft, or a combination of both.

8. How many flying accidents have you had in the last 5 years in which your pilot error was involved?

9. How many total flight hours do you have?

10. Do you possess a valid Airline Transport Pilot Certificate or Commercial Pilot Certificate with an instrument-airplane rating?

11. Do you possess three years of experience working in an organization with an air carrier, commercial operating or air agency certificate, an organization whose work has led to the certification of individual airmen, or an organization that operated aircraft?

12. Do you possess airplane category and single-engine and multi-engine land ratings?

Grade Level Determination

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the job for which you are applying. Typically, specialized experience is in or closely related to the work of the position for which you are applying.

1. Please select the one statement from the following list that best describes your level of specialized experience as it relates to this position for which you are applying.

Note: The level of experience you select may determine your band or grade eligibility. For more information on qualifications, visit OPM's Qualification Standards site, General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Examples of various levels of specialized experience.

Not Answered
A. I have less than 1 year of specialized experience at any level.
B. I have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level (or equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-7 level in the Federal service). The GS-7 level is usually a developmental assignment. Higher level inspectors describe the purpose, scope, and critical points and anticipated results of each assignment and review the results produced. Results are reviewed closely to ensure adherence to instructions and accuracy and reasonableness of the results produced. Assignments are performed under direct supervision of higher level inspectors.
C. I have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level (or equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-9 level in the Federal service). Assignments typically involve inspecting specific facilities, equipment, and aircraft for regulatory compliance and performing limited phases of broader assignments that are the responsibility of higher level employees. Works independently in a narrow area but receives more supervision with assignments in new areas.
D. I have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level (or equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service). The GS-11 typically involves making routine inspections of organizations (e.g., air carriers, air taxis executive operators, flight and ground schools, mechanic schools and repair stations) for compliance with their approved programs and procedures, Federal aviation regulations, and good safety practices. Supervisory oversight generally consists of review of completed projects to assure compliance with organization policies or regulations.
E. I have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level (or equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-12 level in the Federal service). Work at the GS-12 level is typically full journeyman level. Journeyman inspectors perform a variety of technical administrative, certification and surveillance duties and report findings to higher level inspectors. Typically assignments include those associated with acquiring and applying technical expertise on less complex assignments or assisting more experienced inspectors on complex assignments. Completed work is reviewed commensurate with the nature of the assignment and to assess impact on overall organizational objectives.
F. I have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level (or equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-13 level in the Federal service). The GS-13 typically involves performing complex assignments as an individual contributor, team member, or as project/team leader. Assignments typically involve applying advanced technical knowledge of the aviation industry, general principles of aviation safety, Federal laws, regulations, and policies governing aviation safety as well as knowledge of FAA evaluation techniques. Work is typically reviewed from an overall standpoint for accuracy, consistency and effectiveness in meeting requirement or expected results.
G. I have at least 1 year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level (or equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-14 level in the Federal service). The GS-14 typically involves highly complex and challenging activities under the minimum direction of a manager or executive. Assignments are of such breadth, diversity, and intensity that they involve numerous complex features. Managers provide administrative direction in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.

Directly Related Technical Experience

1. How many flight hours do you have (Pilot-in-Command and/or Second-in-Command) in turbine-powered airplanes?

2. How many total flight hours do you have as a Flight Instructor in airplanes?

3. How many total flight hours do you have as a Flight Instructor in Rotorcraft?

4. Have you instructed and/or conducted flight checks in technically advanced aircraft or simulators?

5. Have you ever been responsible for analyzing data and/or recommending corrective actions?

Not Answered
My current or previous jobs required me to apply this knowledge, skill, or ability REGULARLY to be an acceptable performer.
My current or previous jobs required me to apply this knowledge, skill, or ability OFTEN to be an acceptable performer.
My current or previous jobs required me to apply this knowledge, skill, or ability SOMETIMES to be an acceptable performer.
My current or previous jobs required me to apply this knowledge, skill, or ability RARELY to be an acceptable performer.
My current or previous jobs NEVER required me to apply this knowledge, skill or ability.

6. Do you hold (or have you held) FAA Certifications as a Designated Pilot Examiner, Pilot Proficiency Examiner, Training Center Evaluator, OR Aircrew Program designation/authorization?

7. Do you hold (or have you held) a Check Airman, Check Pilot, OR military service Evaluator designation/authorization?

8. As an Air Carrier or military instructor, have you taught courses in initial, recurrent, re-qualification, transition, differences, or upgrade?

9. Have you been responsible for developing new or revised content for programs/manuals?

9A. If yes, were one or more of these programs/manuals approved/accepted by the FAA?

10. Have you held the position of chief flight instructor, assistant chief flight instructor, or check instructor in a Part 141 pilot school for airplane or rotorcraft?

11. Have you ever held a management position with responsibilities for the operational control of an aircraft (e.g. chief pilot, director of operations, or industry/military equivalent) under 14 CFR Parts 91, 91 subpart K, 121, 125, or 135?

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA)

Please select the answer for the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) to indicate your possession of the KSA in terms of the position for which you are applying.
IMPORTANT: Ensure that your work experience supports your answer. Your answer and associated work experience will be evaluated further to validate whether the answer that you selected is appropriate.

1. Ability to interpret and apply Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

Select the response that best describes your performance or use of the above question as it relates to the position for which you are applying.

Not Answered
A. I have never been required to use this knowledge, skill, or ability in current or previous jobs or have used it but received less than acceptable performance assessments from my supervisor.
B. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on occasion in current or previous jobs and have received acceptable or better performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor, OR I have successfully completed university, college, or vocational coursework in this knowledge, skill, or ability area.
C. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received an acceptable performance assessment in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.
D. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received above acceptable performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) 1 Narrative (optional): You may provide a narrative below that supports your answer or, in lieu of a narrative, ensure that the work experience contained within your application package fully supports your answer.

2. Ability to gather, analyze and evaluate information and determine its consistency with safety standards.

Select the response that best describes your performance or use of the above question as it relates to the position for which you are applying.

Not Answered
A. I have never been required to use this knowledge, skill, or ability in current or previous jobs or have used it but received less than acceptable performance assessments from my supervisor.
B. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on occasion in current or previous jobs and have received acceptable or better performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor, OR I have successfully completed university, college, or vocational coursework in this knowledge, skill, or ability area.
C. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received an acceptable performance assessment in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.
D. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received above acceptable performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) 2 Narrative (optional): You may provide a narrative below that supports your answer or, in lieu of a narrative, ensure that the work experience contained within your application package fully supports your answer.

3. Problem Solving - Ability to apply critical thinking to identify issues, problems and/or concerns, to consider the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, and to initiate and/or recommend corrective action.

Select the response that best describes your level of expertise and independence using the above question as it relates to the position for which you are applying.

Not Answered
A. I have no experience in the use of this knowledge, skill, or ability.
B. I am developing in the use of this knowledge, skill, or ability and perform work involving it on an occasional basis with the direct guidance and supervision of a higher-level expert who reviews my work products and provides coaching and direction.
C. I am considered competent in the use of this knowledge, skill, or ability and have performed work involving it under the guidance and supervision of a higher-level expert reviewing work upon completion.
D. I am considered proficient in the use of this knowledge, skill, or ability and have performed work involving it on a regular and recurring basis and with only occasional higher-level review.
E. I am considered an expert in the use of this knowledge, skill, or ability and have provided training and instruction to others in the performance of work involving it.
F. I am considered an expert in the use of this knowledge, skill, or ability and have supervised others in the performance of work and accepting or rejecting their work using this skill or knowledge.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) 3 Narrative (optional): You may provide a narrative below that supports your answer or, in lieu of a narrative, ensure that the work experience contained within your application package fully supports your answer.

4. Ability to present clear and concise information consistent with the targeted audience.

Select the response that best describes your performance or use of the above question as it relates to the position for which you are applying.

Not Answered
A. I have never been required to use this knowledge, skill, or ability in current or previous jobs or have used it but received less than acceptable performance assessments from my supervisor.
B. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on occasion in current or previous jobs and have received acceptable or better performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor, OR I have successfully completed university, college, or vocational coursework in this knowledge, skill, or ability area.
C. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received an acceptable performance assessment in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.
D. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received above acceptable performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) 4 Narrative (optional): You may provide a narrative below that supports your answer or, in lieu of a narrative, ensure that the work experience contained within your application package fully supports your answer.

5. Team Work - Ability to work effectively in a group situation with volunteers and industry partners; to consider the viewpoints of others and to constructively work through conflicting points of view and competing interests to achieve group goals; demonstrates skill at motivating others toward cooperative efforts and goal attainment; responds to others in an objective, tactful and diplomatic manner.

Select the response that best describes your performance or use of the above question as it relates to the position for which you are applying.

Not Answered
A. I have never been required to use this knowledge, skill, or ability in current or previous jobs or have used it but received less than acceptable performance assessments from my supervisor.
B. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on occasion in current or previous jobs and have received acceptable or better performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor, OR I have successfully completed university, college, or vocational coursework in this knowledge, skill, or ability area.
C. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received an acceptable performance assessment in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.
D. I have used this knowledge, skill, or ability on a regular and recurring basis in current or previous jobs and received above acceptable performance assessments in this knowledge, skill, or ability from my supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) 5 Narrative (optional): You may provide a narrative below that supports your answer or, in lieu of a narrative, ensure that the work experience contained within your application package fully supports your answer.

FAA Designations & Authorizations

Select any FAA designation or authorization that you hold or have held.

Please specify any other FAA designations and/or authorizations which are not listed:

Preview Questionnaire

Commitment to the United States Government

Your Resume

Your Documents

USAJOBS Profile

Geographic Preferences

Applicant-Preferred Conditions of Employment and Federal Service

Basic Qualifications

Grade Level Determination

Directly Related Technical Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA)

FAA Designations & Authorizations