Air Traffic Assistant (Flight Data Communications Specialist)

About the role

Incumbent serves as an Air Traffic Assistant/Flight Data Communications Specialist (FDCS) at an Air Traffic Terminal or Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and is responsible for providing flight data processing and communications service for the National Airspace System (NAS).

What you will do

• Performs a combination of routine and multiple and varying tasks/assignments under the general direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced employee.
• Acts as an individual contributor and/or member of a team to assist other employees in day-to-day operations.
• Applies experience and detailed knowledge to plan and accomplish routine tasks/assignments.
• Assignments include the following: Provides flight data processing and communications service for the air traffic control system, and operates and maintains a variety of air traffic operational computer systems.
• Processes and monitors the input of proposed and active flight plans from military base operations, ARTCC sectors, terminal facilities, adjacent ARTCC's, flight service stations, and air carrier operations offices.
• Recognizes incorrect flight plan entries into the National Airspace System (NAS) and enters corrections as required.
• Develops and maintains bulk storage flight plans.
• Receives and analyzes significant meteorological information (SIGMETS), airmen's meteorological information (AIRMETS), weather advisories, etc. and makes immediate notification to the Watch Stander-In-Charge and other operation personnel.
• Checks and updates altimeter readings and updates winds aloft.
• Operates, monitors, and safeguards the DHS Automatic Digital Network (AUTODIN) system.
• Makes entries into the operations network (OPSNET) concerning computer utilization, delays and traffic counts for designated facilities.
• Collects and distributes flight plans, traffic management restrictions, notices to airmen (NOTAMS) and a variety of other data related to flight safety.
• Prepares and transmits NOTAMS, information requests (INREQS), alert notices (ALNOTS), AIRMETS, Pilot Weather Reports (PIREPS), Center Weather Advisories (CWAs), defense communication messages, traffic management and administrative messages.
• Trains developmental specialists in the performance of flight data and data communications system functional responsibilities.
• Contacts are primarily internal but may also be external depending on the specialized area supported.
• Internal contacts often involve more than one organizational unit in a major subdivision and are with managers and other employees to share information and to discuss the statuses of tasks/assignments.
• Established policies/procedures provide guidance for almost all tasks/assignments, but allow some discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es).
• Frequently refers problems and work issues to a manager or more experienced employee when guidelines are not available or applicable.
• Work is reviewed frequently during major stages of tasks/assignments and at completion to ensure timeliness and alignment with the requirements of projects and/or work activities.
• Work activities typically support one or more projects/programs and affect the objectives of the organizational unit and the major subdivision.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

How you will be evaluated

IMPORTANT: 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. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Documents you must provide

• Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement.
• Faxed, mailed or e-mailed applications cannot be accepted.
• If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your on-line application, e.g. transcripts, SF-50, or veterans' documentation, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS.
• Supplemental documentation may be uploaded and attached to your application.
• If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement.
• You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application.
• If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.
• If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system ***

What to expect next

Once we receive your complete application, the Human Resources Office will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications. Eligible and qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. You will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.

For instructions on how to check the status of your application, please go to: USAJOBS Help Guide. Important - If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. DOT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact listed in the Agency Contact Information section of this announcement or the hiring manager. An employee with a disability must notify the decision-maker of the accommodation request.

Job applicants and employees are required to follow up oral requests in writing. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Additional information on reasonable accommodations procedures or on EEO Programs is available on Office of Civil Rights (ACR) or by contacting the local FAA Civil Rights Office.

Additional information

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

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. *** This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program.

Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

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 announcements.

Therefore, as an applicant for this 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, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA in your work history.

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. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s) if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement.

Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration. This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available at ***

Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job. If the Agency decides to interview any qualified employee on the selection list, then all on the list who are qualified must be interviewed.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT: All persons appointed to Air Traffic Assistant positions are required to successfully complete a training program to gain specific job knowledge. Those failing to complete the program may be separated, demoted or reassigned. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA