The position is assigned to the Flight Standards Service/General Aviation Safety Assurance Division (AFG) and serves as the POI (Rotorcraft/Helicopter) for Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for general aviation rotorcraft/helicopter operations. The employee will perform the full range of certification, surveillance, and inspection duties for assigned air carriers, air operators, air agencies, airmen, and designees. Duties
Some assignments involve wide responsibility for application of expert knowledge of flight operations for technically advanced rotorcraft/helicopters. Such employees are concerned with all aspects of the operational capabilities and limitations of the aircraft.
On a continuing basis, assures that assigned organizations are properly and adequately organized, staffed, and equipped; have an adequate training program, including an acceptable record keeping system; and have facilities and procedures that meet all regulatory requirements. Chairs joint FAA-industry meetings; maintains regular contact with organizations assigned; and coordinates with top management officials. Requires or directs correction of any
deficiencies/discrepancies and refuses or withdraws approval of they cannot be resolved.
Technical Administration
Develops new or innovative standards practices and procedures to address highly technical issues; as well as identifies the need for and recommends changes to national policies and procedures for certification and surveillance compliance.
Prepares technical and other pertinent correspondence, responds to congressional inquiries; testifies at court trials and formal hearings resolving highly complex compliance, regulatory matters, and public complaints.
Provides advice and recommendations to Flight Standards and aviation safety initiatives to increase safety; provide training to inspectors.
The employee works with technically advanced helicopters for large operators or has oversight over large helicopter air ambulance operators. As the principal representative in regulatory surveillance of air carrier activities, exercises certificate authority over rotorcraft air carriers with very extensive and complex operations. Analyzes flight operations involving large fleets of rotorcraft aircraft.
Certification
Evaluates training programs to ensure they meet the requirements of 14 CFR. Manages reliability team efforts during the development of the standards and procedures pertaining to training programs.
Reviews and approves or disapproves carriers technical procedures/manuals and revisions to such. May require amendments to previously approved documents to accomplish the following: correct any conflict with regulatory requirements; eliminate unsafe practices; and/or improve the specificity of instruction.
Evaluates operations and facilities by on-site inspections and review of reports by geographic inspectors or others. Negotiates changes essential or desirable in the policies and procedures. Determines the appropriate methods and/or plans for securing corrective action and determines through on-site inspection or inspector reports the effectiveness of any action.
Surveillance
Surveils operations in high-risk environments; manages the safety of emergency medical operations to include those with a sophisticated blend of operational demographics and high-risk environments.
Responsible for monitoring all phases of operations including: training programs and records; base and station facilities; and route systems. Coordinates with and reviews reports from geographic inspectors and others to identify trends which indicate deterioration in the safety of operations. Directs or suggests changes required to correct such trends.
Flight Program
Participates in the FAA flight program to maintain qualification and currency requirements applicable to operations inspectors, for the purpose of supporting the FAA in a variety of flight-related functions to include training and evaluation of designated pilot examiners. Evaluates tasks contained in the FAA practical test standards and airman certification standards by participating as pilot in command or as a crewmember. The inspector is required to maintain an FAA second class medical.
Performs other duties as assigned.
