The Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) is responsible for recommending new and amended Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) for the development and implementation of standards, programs, and procedures for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) field personnel and the public governing all matters to air carrier maintenance safety issues.
Duties
The PMI receives administrative direction from management in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The PMI, mostly independently plans, designs, and carries out programs, projects, studies, or other work. The PMI provides policy assistance to regional and field level Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) on difficult or complex policy interpretations. The work is normally accepted without change. Completed work may be reviewed for adherence to FAA policy and for assurance that project requirements have been fulfilled.
Some FG-14 assignments involve region wide responsibility for application of expert knowledge of advanced multiengine turbojet aircraft. Such employees are concerned with all aspects of the operational capabilities and limitations of the aircraft. Other FG-14 inspectors establish technical procedures and performance yardsticks and review complete maintenance programs for major air carriers who are leaders in the aviation industry, or who have problems of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity and the organizations monitored are major factors in the industry.
ASIs at the FG-14 level establish technical procedures and performance indexes and review complete maintenance programs for major air carriers who are leaders in the aviation industry, or who have problems of comparable scope and complexity, or a uniquely complex group of general aviation organizations. Assignments at this level are of great scope and unusual complexity.
The following assignments are illustrative:
1. As a Service wide expert on a particular type of sophisticated multiengine turbojet aircraft:
-- Serves on national boards that determine the minimum equipment necessary to operate a particular type of
aircraft safely; and
-- Serves on boards that evaluate incidents, accidents, complaints, and other serious problems relating to the
aircraft. Develops plans to resolve problems.
2. As the principal representative in regulatory surveillance of air carrier activities, exercises certificate authority over a major air carrier with very extensive and complex operations. Analyzes flight operations involving large fleets of turbojet aircraft engaged in large-scale passenger and freight service; or evaluates maintenance activities and complete aircraft overhaul facilities which are equipped and staffed to handle the latest and most sophisticated turbojet aircraft and associated systems. This level includes responsibility for nationally and internationally prominent carriers who operate the largest, most advanced fleets of turbojet aircraft in the industry. (By comparison, FG-13 employees exercise certificate authority over less complex air carriers or perform major portions of the certification, inspection, and surveillance for major carriers under the direction of FG-14 inspectors.)
3. Exercises certificate authority and safety responsibility over a complex of broad and varied general aviation organizations such as operator maintenance facilities and contracted repair stations when the activities monitored equate collectively to a major air carrier in terms of size and complexity of aircraft fleet employed, scope and technical complexity of operations, management sophistication, industry leadership, and public impact. The magnitude, intensity, and scope of program responsibility are typically such as to require significant and regular assistance of lower graded inspectors.
FG-14 employees evaluate flight operations programs for organizations which utilize complex aircraft, systems, and equipment. Because of organizational complexity or the advanced technology incorporated in the aircraft, systems, and equipment, employees must exercise originality to resolve unique problems.
Performs other duties as required.
