Aviation Safety Officer Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established January 12, 1972

Scope

This series specification describes three Aviation Safety Officer classes used in the Division of Aeronautics, Department of Transportation, to perform work related to Aviation Safety.

Definition of Series

The Aviation Safety Officer series administers the State's aviation safety program. Aviation Saftey Officers perform a regulatory role to ensure the construction, operation, and maintenance of public-use and special-use airports and heliports complies with safety and permit requirements of the California Public Utilities Code, the California Code of Regulations, provisions of the Education Code, and other State and federal government codes and regulations related to aeronautics.

Safety Review and Permit Process

Apply investigative methods to inspect airports and heliports to ensure their compliance with safety standards.  This includes understanding and applying design standards, reviewing and approving plans and specifications, utilizing field survey instruments, and conducting interviews to evaluate the physical condition and safety status of existing and proposed airports and heliports.  Incumbents inspect airports for compliance with federal orders and regulations and update the Airport Master Record for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); serve as the Department's point of contact in the regulatory permit application and review process; and work with airport and heliport managers and owners to resolve safety and standards issues and improve safety conditions.

Recommend solutions to resolve aviation safety problems in a timely manner to protect the public safety.  Aviation Safety Officers enforce state safety and permit standards and implement corrective action in accordance with State laws, rules, and regulations. 

Advise the public, local agencies, and industry stakeholders on the technical aspects of airport and heliport planning, operations, and management and State aviation regulations, and assist them with environmental, noise and land use regulations, State and federal financial assistance programs for airport development, and complying with federal aviation regulations.  Incumbents develop and present technical discussions, hold workshops and meetings, and maintain liaison with aviation groups, civic organizations, and local agencies. Incumbents provide court testimony on aviation safety and permit compliance issues.

Evaluate the acquisition of proposed State-owned buildings and school sites located near airport runways.  Incumbents work as a lead with airport managers, airport land use commission staff, and Division personnel to develop the evaluation package, including land use and noise impacts and airport safety area maps.  Incumbents make compatibility determinations about projects, including recommendations on the use of State funds; and manage the Helicopter Landing Authorization (HLA) program for evaluation and authorization of helicopter landings within 1,000 feet of K-12 schools.

Prepare comprehensive inspection reports, drawings, diagrams for the Airport Master Record updates, and other applicable reports and correspondence; and create technical guidance documents for Federal, State and local governments, industry, and the general public.

Safely pilot State owned, leased, or rented aircraft to efficiently and effectively accomplish mandated duties.  Incumbents transport Department staff and other government employees in conjunction with the performance of job duties.  Incumbents may be called upon 24/7 to transport Department staff in response to declared local and statewide emergencies as well as other flying duties as assigned, i.e. aerial photography.

Level of difficulty, variety, complexity of duties, independence of actions and decisions, supervision received and exercised, nature of public contact, and consequence of error serve as differentiation factors between classes.

Definitions of Levels

Aviation Safety Officer I

This is the entry level.  Under supervision, incumbents are typically given assignments of average difficulty.  Incumbents work independently or with others to do special studies of average difficulty.  Incumbents are assigned a geographical area and are responsible for enforcing aviation safety regulations and standards as contained in the California Public Utilities Code, the California Code of Regulations, provisions of the Education Code, and other State government codes and regulations related to aeronautics; perform inspection work; review plans and specifications for aviation safety compliance; and advise airport and heliport facility owners and operators, local agencies, and other Department staff on aviation planning, permitting, and safety issues; and do other related work.

This is the full journey level.  Incumbents may work independently on complex aviation issues or serve in a lead capacity.  Under direction, incumbents are assigned geographical area and are responsible for enforcing aviation safety regulations and standards as contained in the California Public Utilities Code, the California Code of Regulations, provisions of the Education Code, and other State government codes and regulations related to aeronautics; perform inspection work of the most complex nature; review plans and specifications for aviation safety compliance; and independently provide consultation and technical assistance to airport and heliport facility owners and operators, the Legislature, local agencies, and other Department staff on aviation planning, permitting, and safety issues; and do other related work.

This is the full supervisory level.  Under general direction, incumbents are responsible for planning, organizing, and coordinating the Aviation Safety Program including budgeting, training, staffing, and participating in development of policy and regulations.  Incumbents at this level perform the most complex special studies concerning a particular element of the Aeronautics Program; and do other related work.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Skills:  Safely operate department aircraft in visual and instrument meteorological conditions, day and night, in diverse topographic and geographic areas in accordance with applicable office procedures, State law, and Federal Aviation Regulations.

Ability to:  Gather, compile, analyze, and interpret data; reason logically; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; communicate effectively; prepare clear and concise correspondence and reports; use word processing, spreadsheets, and automated design software programs; apply effective investigative methods and procedures by gathering facts, interviewing persons involved in controversial matters, and understanding the application of laws and regulations to draw conclusions and recommend corrective action; ability to read and interpret engineering and planning documents including drawing, plans, specifications, contracts, design standards, maps, and survey notes; secure compliance with state regulations firmly, tactfully, and expeditiously; recognize potentially hazardous conditions at airports/heliports, in approaches to airports/heliports and flight patterns; identify the need for and provide creative thinking related to aviation problems; may participate in discussions involving policy, regulatory, and legal aviation matters; stimulate community interest and participate in establishing and maintaining an aeronautical program adapted to local needs; secure cooperation and maintain effective working relationships with persons interested in aeronautical programs; and encourage, inspire, and coordinate various work programs of numerous committees and public and private agencies.

Knowledge of:  All of the above, and principles and practices in the planning and developing of airport systems; administration of the California Financial Airport Aid Systems; provisions of the Federal Airport Grant Program; California law as it applies to aeronautics; general principles of the operation of State, county, city, and special government districts in California; and policies and processes to meet program objectives.

Skills:  All of the above.

Ability to:  Do all of the above, and identify the need for and provide creative thinking and effective solutions related to complex aviation problems; represent the Department in discussions involving policy, regulatory, and legal aviation matters; act independently; and act as a lead on a team or special aviation projects or studies.

Knowledge of:  All of the above, and principles and trends in air transportation; principles and techniques of effective personnel management and supervision; principles of program budgeting; and a manager’s/supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, safety and health, and labor relations, and the processes available to meet these program objectives.

Skills:  All of the above.

Ability to:  Do all of the above, and plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of others; represent the Department on aviation matters before the Legislature and other government agencies; plan and recommend budgeting for the Division's program goals; and effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

ALL LEVELS:

Demonstrated interest in and enthusiasm for the development of aeronautics; willingness to accept work assignments and travel throughout the State; willingness to work overnight; and ability to work in inclement and extreme weather conditions and in remote geographic areas.