Requirements Help
Conditions of employment - US Citizenship is required.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
- Successful completion of a security investigation may be required.
- A one-year probationary period may be required.
- Please review the Required Documents section.
- Pilot Certificate Required
- First or Second-Class Medical is required (First class medical is required for new hires)
Qualifications
Minimum eligibility requirements are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position.
All applicants MUST possess a valid first or second-class medical certificate. Selected candidates must obtain a first-class medical certificate prior to appointment.
Candidates must possess a current Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating with airplane single-engine and multi-engine land and instrument ratings or the appropriate military ratings (Refer to Required Documents Section).
Qualifications are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position.
Candidates must demonstrate possession of the knowledge and skills required for the work by meeting certain minimum flight hour requirements, including recency of flight experience. Only that flight experience that is directly related to the work of the position is required for purposes of establishing minimum eligibility.
NOTE: Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot, flight instructor, or flight examiner, as appropriate.
Flight test positions also require completion of a flight test school such as a military flight test school, or at least 1 year of experience either flight testing aircraft for engineering approval (civilian or military) or analyzing aircraft performance data.
NOTE: Acceptable engineering flight test experience must have been for the purpose of establishing the basic airworthiness of prototype aircraft or component parts in the experimental/developmental stage. This experience includes flight testing of an aircraft or component from the time of first developmental flight testing through final FAA certification or military acceptance testing. This experience must include basic stability, controllability, and performance testing to determine compliance with civil, military, or foreign standards.
The following flight hour requirements apply:
1. TOTAL FLIGHT TIME - 1750 Hours.
Flight time as a pilot in command or copilot in aircraft of any weight or category is creditable for this requirement. For in-service placement actions, up to one-fourth of the total flight hours may be waived for candidates who have demonstrated possession of the knowledge and skills needed to perform the work, provided: 1) applicant holds the required certificates and ratings; 2) applicant has acquired the pilot-in-command hours and flight hours in other categories essential to performance of the work; 3) applicant meets the requirements in terms of level and quality of experience; and 4) applicant's flying history indicates they are qualified for the position.
2. PILOT-IN-COMMAND TIME - 1150 Hours.
Only flight hours acquired as pilot-in-command are creditable.
3. NIGHT FLYING TIME - 75 Hours.
For in-service placement actions, 25 hours may be waived if the applicant demonstrates the ability to perform the work.
4. FLYING TIME, LAST 12 MONTHS - 100 Hours.
For in-service placement actions, up to one-half of the flight hours may be waived provided the applicant's total background reflects the ability to perform the duties of the position safely. NOTE: Flight time in an FAA approved level C or D full flight simulator is creditable towards meeting the recency of flight experience.
5. Fixed Wing - 500 Hours.
Position requires operation of heavy multi-engine airplanes (i.e., gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds). At least 50 percent of the flight hours must have been in such heavy airplanes. Up to 250 hours flying time acquired in heavy helicopters (gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds) may be substituted.
or
5. Rotorcraft - 500 Hours.
Position requires operation of heavy helicopters (i.e., gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds). At least 50 percent of the flight hours must have been in such heavy helicopters. Up to 250 hours flying time acquired in heavy multi-engine airplanes (gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds) may be substituted.
6. INSTRUMENT TIME - 75 Hours.
At least 10 of the required hours must have been logged in actual instrument weather. The balance may have been acquired in a flight simulator or as other types of instrument flight time; e.g., hood instrument.
Complete OPM Qualifications Standard for the Aircraft Operation Series, 2181, available at:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/2100/aircraft-operation-series-2181/
AND
In addition to the basic requirements to qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FV-I, FG/GS-13. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.
Training Requirement: Failure to successfully complete all required training, including the FAA initial flight test training courses, and to obtain all required certificates may result in reassignment, demotion, or dismissal.
Flight Check: Candidates may be required to demonstrate proficiency in an aircraft or simulator, including a flight check to demonstrate ability to perform flight test techniques. Candidates will be evaluated on the quality of their experience as it pertains to the specific positions being filled.
Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
Applicants should include specialized experience in their Work History.
Applicants may be asked to verify information on their application for employment with the FAA.
Education
See Qualifications Required
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 Knowledge, Skills and Ability (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); Quality Ranking Factor(s) or Other Factors 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.
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
This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.
Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. On-the-Spot will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.
Notes:
- Applicants must apply online to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed or emailed applications cannot be accepted.
- Some, none, or all candidates may be interviewed.
- Salary will be set in accordance with OPM Special Rate Tables for 2181 series employees: Special Rates - OPM.gov. Special Rate Pay:
- Lakewood. CA - 50%
- Des Plaines, IL - 47%
- Applicants must upload required documents in USAJOBS before the closing date of the announcement (See Required Documents); First or Second Class Medical Certificate, Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate.
- This Public Notice will serve as a resume repository - positions may or may not be filled from this announcement.
Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA
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Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
Required Documents Help
Documentation, e.g. Pilot Certificate, Valid Medical Certificate, veteran's documentation will be accepted in combination with your on-line application. These documents must be uploaded on or before the closing date of this announcement. All submitted documents should reference the announcement number. The following two documents are REQUIRED to verify qualifications for this occupation: 1) Pilot Certificate [front and back]; and 2) Medical Certificate (Valid first or Second-Class Medical Certificate)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.