Quote from ride the wind
"The FAA job offer has got to be flame, not with 1900 hours"
http://jobs.faa.gov/announcement_detail.asp?vac_id=27152
The above link is to the full bid announcement, below is lifted from it as applies to GA ops inspectors. Having been a former Government employee and working with the FSDO at times, I know many to have come to the FAA at the point in their careers where they were transitioning from regionals to a major or from the military to the civilian world. Also known a few who came straight from CFI with a bit of right seat time in a Citation.
General Aviation Operations Inspectors: General aviation operations inspectors are responsible for single and multiengine aircraft (including multiengine aircraft over 12,500 pounds gross takeoff weight) used for pleasure, air taxi service, industry, and agriculture. Some of their duties are to: * Examine airmen (pilots, flight instructors, etc.) for initial and continuing certification; * Evaluate airmen training programs, equipment, and facilities; * Evaluate the operations of air taxis and similar commercial aviation operations for adequacy of facilities, equipment, procedures, and overall management to ensure safe operation of the aircraft; and * Investigate and report on accidents, incidents, and violations. To qualify for general aviation operations inspector positions, applicants must possess the following qualifications: * An airline transport pilot certificate or commercial pilot certificate with instrument airplane rating; * Single and multiengine land airplane ratings; * A valid flight instructor certificate with single and multiengine airplane and instrument airplane ratings; * Pilot experience which provided a comprehensive knowledge of operations requirements, facilities, practices, procedures, and flight activities of aircraft; * A minimum of 1,500 total flight hours as a pilot or copilot; * Some aviation work experience within the last 10 years; * A minimum of 300 flight hours within the last 3 years; * A minimum of 1,000 flight hours within the last 5 years; * Professional flying skill as demonstrated in a flight check to commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating standard; and * Not more than 2 flying accidents within the last 5 years.
Pilotyip did an excellent job of contrasting the two paths.
Out of interest how long after submitting the app (electronic or paper?) did you get an initial call and what was the process like. Did you know someone at the FSDO? I keep contemplating going back to the Gov so I'm curious the way things went.
