Aircraft Pilot-Flight Test (Direct Hire)

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.

Specialized experience includes: Flight Test Pilot experience planning and conducting engineering flight test programs that lead to 14 CFR Part 23 and/or Part 25, and/or Part 27, and/or Part 29, and or Part 33 type certification (or equivalent military compliance and airworthiness requirements)

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.