(Source:  Young Prof. in Transportation)

 

Who May Apply:

U.S. Citizens
We are not accepting applications from non-U.S. citizens.

How We Will Evaluate You:

Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s).All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated.

Key Requirements:

U.S. Citizen

The Next Generation of Flight is Underway – and you can be part of it! We need you and your fresh ideas to shape the air transportation system of tomorrow, and the way America flies. Come be a part of the new generation in aviation, an industry that is absolutely critical to this nation’s economy and security.The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is a fundamental transformation of our nation’s airspace system. It uses 21st century technologies to meet future demands, avoid gridlock in the sky and on the runways, further improve safety, and protect the environment. For more information on NextGen, watch this brief introduction: Giving the World New Ways to Fly

Job Duties:
The incumbent will perform a wide variety of national level funds oversight and analytical duties associated with all aspects of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) budget process. This includes providing guidance, oversight, and tracking of funds obligations, to ensure compliance with AIP statutory requirements, program authorizations and appropriation. The AIP annual budget generally exceeds $3 billion annually. The incumbent will perform financial planning; reviews and necessary calculations of annual legislative authorization and appropriation proposals. Incumbent will serve as a national subject matter expert in developing and maintaining guidance on financial management and funds control responsibilities for the AIP. Provides budget and legislative related advice and guidance to management, staff, regional office personnel along with the general public. Prepares written responses to public and Congressional inquiries on the implementation of the AIP.

Minimum Qualifications:

All applicants must demonstrate one-year of SPECIALIZED experience equivalent to the next lower grade. For the FV-I level, applicants must have one year at the FV-H or FG/GS-12 level in the federal service. SPECIALIZED experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform duties of the position and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. (eg. performs wide variety to determine and analyze airport captital improvement) For the FV-J level, applicants must have one year at the FV-I or FG/GS-13 level in the federal service. SPECIALIZED experience is experience which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform duties of the position and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organzation (eg. subject matter expert and provides leadership analyzing airport capital improvement plan).

Other Job Requirements:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA)

1. Ability to analyze and convey financial and technical information to a variety of audiences in meetings, presentations, or briefings.
2. Skill in the application of fiscal management techniques and processes.
3. Knowledge of applicable statutes, regulations, and directives controlling the AIP and familiarity with other related programs, e.g., Passenger Facility Charge, National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, Facilities & Equipment, etc.
4. Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (including MS Excel and MS Word) and reporting system (including the Systems of Airports (SOAR), DELPHI (financial management system), or a standard database system (eg. MS. Access or Oracle Discoverer).

IMPORTANT: Ensure that your work experience supports your Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) answers. Your answers and associated work experience will be evaluated further to validate whether the answers that you selected are appropriate. Answers may be adjusted as appropriate.

Benefits:

FAA offers an excellent comprehensive benefits programs. To learn more about the federal government benefits, please click here.

More Information About This Job:

• We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
• Travel may be required.
• Position may be subject to a background investigation.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.

As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
Direct deposit of pay is required.

1. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all external announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this external announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include work history that describes how you meet the answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate.
2. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements will be further evaluated on the KSA listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Failure to meet minimum qualification requirements automatically disqualifies an applicant.
3. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation Plan. Additional information about core compensation is available at www.faa.gov.
4. FAA organizations may offer service credit towards the accrual of annual leave to certain newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants’ prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting service credit is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee.
5. Applicants must apply on-line (https://jobs.faa.gov). Applicants must have a status of “Submitted” by 11:59 PM CST on the closing date for it to be accepted. Applications submitted via email or fax WILL NOT be considered.
6. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies.
7. This position is also being announced as Vacancy Announcement No. AWA-APP-12-MT19408-23539 as Current or Former Federal Employees & EVHO. Please review both vacancy announcements to determine if you are eligible to apply.

This is a bargaining unit position.

Required Documents:

You must submit proof of veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, SF-15 plus proof required by that form) as requested by the Human Resource Office. Veterans Preference will only be considered based on what is supported. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, the Human Resource office may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

Forms:

• SF-15 : Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference

For more information on this job:Call the Human Resource Services Division at 202-267-8012 or email to 9-AWA-AHR-200-VACANCYINQUIRY@FAA.GOV.

Servicing HR office:
Federal Aviation Administration
Human Resource Services Division
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 523
Washington, DC 20591
Phone: 202 267-8012
Fax Number: 202 267-7032

(Source: Huffington Post)

(Source: FourSquare via Flickr)

This awesome infographic published on the Foursquare blog, gives you a snapshot of the “checkins” across U.S. transportation facilities during last year.  I can see a glimmer of hope for High-Speed Rail by looking at this graphic, at least in the Northeast corridor. I’m hoping the proliferation of mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc) and the widespread acceptance/use of Foursquare app on these smart devices during this year will result in a much more intense mapping when the next edition of this graphic is published.  Happy Thanksgiving! Be safe on the road, everyone! Oh, and don’t forget to check-in when you arrive at a Transportation facility.

Image Courtesy: FourSquare on Flickr - Click Image to Enlarge

(Source: via  Gadling.com)

Some interesting observations:

• According to authors , Southwest drops to second place this month as industry giant Delta (21,000) mentions, leaps into first place. It’s interesting to note that this data is based on tweets and opinions in a category of interest, not number of followers.
•  @SouthwestAir still wins that battle, with 1,142,579 followers vs. 206,201 for the main @Delta Twitter.

(Source: Youtube via Jalopnik)

Google Maps 5.7  is now available with a deeper public transit navigation for users in nearly 400 cities around the globe. As shown in the above video, using your location along the route, the Transit Navigation feature on Google Maps will alert you when its time to get off at your destination or to make a transfer. Transit Navigation (Beta) requires a phone with Android 2.1+ (too bad, Apple users are missing out here) and the latest update of Google Maps for mobile. Oh, the only caveat is that the system works only for above-ground transit systems where the GPS signals can be reached.  And for those with plenty of time to spare, here is a hands-on review of the new feature, courtesy of Engadget. I can already surmise this is a god’s gift (or Google’s) for the international travelers.

(Source:  Houston Chronicle)

I came across this piece by Houston Chronicle’s contributor, Amanda L. Grossman and felt compelled to share with you all.  Quite a bit of research has gone into answer this simple question – How much can you buy with $5 inside a plane? Below is a snap shot of Mr. Grossman’s analysis from her blog – Frugal Confessions – A Guide to Thrifty Living.

The chart below is based on flying economy class on a domestic flight (typically including Hawaii and Caribbean). My research shows that most airlines (excluding Southwest) offer an array of expensive and ‘inexpensive’ food offerings (remember you are thousands of feet in the air), and that American Airlines and Continental/United offer more expensive options than others. Wine and cocktails are most expensive on Delta, American Airlines, and Continental, while AirTran even charges for water, milk and premium juices (these are offered as complimentary on other airlines).

In order to compare the airline pricing further, I decided to see which airline would give me the most value for my $5 (please note that the products listed below are only offered on certain flights and at certain times of the day). What I found is that I certainly will not get full from any of the airline’s menus if I only want to spend $5. Also, for $5 there are very few healthy snack options (other than nuts, cheese, and dried fruit).

Click here to read the rest

Note: Barring transatlantic-flights, my two top favorite American airlines are Virgin America and Southwest.  That said, I hate flying the American carriers during the transatlantic flights.  Many European, Middle Eastern and Asian carriers are far better in their service and connectivity than the American carriers, some of them are well known for their appalling service (the worst I have experienced is United, which got me stranded in Dubai for almost 24hrs).  What are your favorite domestic & international carriers?

(Source: The Texas Tribune)

Image Courtesy: Theatlanticright.com via Google Images

A threat from the federal government to shut down Texas airports or cancel flights may have killed legislation, House Bill 1937, pushed by Tea Party conservatives in the Texas Capitol to prohibit federal Transportation Security Agents from conducting “invasive searches.”

The Texas Tribune has the scoop: The bill passed by the House earlier this month, would make it a misdemeanor offense for a federal security agent to “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly [touch] the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of the other person, including touching through clothing, or touching the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person.”

Two TSA officials visited Patrick at the Capitol earlier today to discuss the legislation. They warned him that the legislation “could close down all the airports in Texas,” he said. After their departure, U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy sent a letter to Speaker of the House Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst saying the bill would “conflict directly with federal law” and that if it became law, “TSA would likely be required to cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of passengers and crew” until the agency could seek a court order stopping the measure from being carried out.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Note: This is not the first time or the first issue the Texas legislature has butted heads with the Federal government.  There is the legendary EPA vs Texas reg. the federal takeover of lax pollution standards in the state. And now a new issue looks to threaten the already fractured relationship and this one involves a brown, beady-eyed, two-and-a-half-inch animal – the sagebrush lizard.  The Texas House this morning approved a resolutioncalling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind its proposal to bring the lizard under the Endangered Species Act. For the West Texas lawmakers, this federal proposal to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard could halt the production of millions of barrels of oil and gas. Is this another classic Texas story where greed reigns supreme or a genuine concern for the people who depend on the oil & gas revenue?

(Source: MSNBC)

Image Courtesy: bored383.com via Google Images

An air traffic controller was suspended Wednesday after being asleep while a medical flight was landing in Nevada, marking the fifth lapse so far this year among controllers at the nation’s airports. Four involved sleeping controllers.

In response to the lapses, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it was immediately putting a second controller on the midnight shift at 26 airports and a radar facility around the country that currently have only one overnight person.