Legal Instruments Examiner (Applications)

The Legal Instruments Examiner is responsible for examining airmen applications, supporting documents, enforcement actions, and is responsible for issuing most classes of airmen certificates and an infinite number of various ratings, type ratings, limitations, exemptions, etc. as well as responding to inquiries from other FAA lines of business, airmen, the aviation public and other governmental agencies regarding airman certification information. This is a developmental position that will require the incumbent to participate in both a formal and informal training program that includes on-the-job training and a classroom training environment. The incumbent will be exposed to almost all aspects of the journeyman level responsibilities listed below for developmental purposes.

The incumbent will perform the following duties, but in a limited and more supervised capacity than at the higher grades.

• Adjudicates legal instruments, applications and supporting documents for the specific certificates for which they have been trained and tested with various ratings, type ratings, limitations, exemptions, categories, etc. Communicates via oral and written explanations as to the granting or denial of airman certificates, based upon FAA regulations, policy, and guidance material, including international treaty, federal law, and legal case histories.
• Makes final determination whether to issue the certificate or rating for which the airman is applying, by consideration of all available legal and regulatory guidelines contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), various FAA Orders, exemptions, court decisions, legal precedents, or other governing policy documents for airmen certification.
• Analyzes legal decisions, enforcement actions and orders to determine the effect of such instruments on the airman's ability to apply for and/or hold an airman's certificate. In the case of airmen who hold multiple certificates, the examiner must determine which certificates and ratings are affected by the legal decisions. Incumbent must determine, from careful analysis of the progression and status of the case, when the airman is qualified for reinstatement or reapplication.
• Compiles extensive information on legal subjects and documents from the airmen records, and is responsible for the completeness, accuracy, relevancy and correctness of legal content of each airman's complete file. These files are certified by the Airmen Certification Branch and are accepted as evidence in all courts of law in the United States.
• Evaluates airmen records for the purpose of evidentiary hearings, especially involving cases of suspected fraud or misrepresentation on airman applications. Incumbent interfaces extensively with FAA Regional Counsel Offices in preparation for cases under the FAA Drug Enforcement Assistance Act of 1988 and in accordance with U.S.C 44703 and may be called to testify in these cases and to present evidence.
• The position requires an in-depth knowledge of the FAA Drug Enforcement Assistance Act of 1988, and knowledge of the FAA's responsibilities under the Act. This will require legal research and independent determination of findings regarding the airman's worthiness to hold an FAA airman certificate and involves liaison with other governmental agencies in the proper disposition of records, evidence, and outcomes of the application process.
• Processes all telephone and email inquiries and provides guidance to airmen, members of Congress, airlines, attorneys, insurance companies, foreign governments, law enforcement agencies, FAA regional and field offices, TSA, NTSB, GAO, OIG, AOV, and other sources. Makes determinations as to what information can be released from the airmen records, and to whom it can be released.
• Analyzes incoming mail, composes technical letters, correction notices and provides instruction/information to the clerks for response to public inquiries.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
• Position will be filled at the FG-7 Level ONLY.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• Successful completion of a security investigation will be required.
• Please Review Required Documents and Additional Information.

To qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FG/GS-5 grade level. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

Specialized Experience includes experience examining airmen applications; experience analyzing and compiling legal subjects and documents to make sound decisions; experience verifying eligibility based on completeness, accuracy, relevancy, and correctness of supporting documentation; experience with internal and external stakeholders. 

Qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement.