Wingman84

Thank you all for the information and advice, it’s very helpful. Since you say that the application has to get past HR do you think it even matters that I have made contact with the CMO manager? Do the managers have a say in whether or not I make the referral list? And no I do not have veterans points.

JamesNoBrakes

I read that as: "qualified people may not have a chance, because they are going to hire their 'buddies'". Is that really any better?

Being able to correctly fill out an application is not "jacked up". Misspelling, not listing the required qualifications and experience will get your resume discarded by anyone in the "real world". Most vets should be at 5pts preference, only significantly disabled/purple heart get 10 if I recall correctly. I don't know if there's "really" a computer keyword search for these, as there are also the multiple-choice questions and yes/no questions that probably kick it out if they indicate you are not qualified. HR told us that they read them at that point if they qualify, but again, I don't know if there's really a keyword search.

Wingman, it doesn't matter at this point unless you make the referral list. If you make the referral list, that's when it might help to have made yourself known to the CMO manager. Obviously making yourself known was a good step and will help if you make the list. I made several referral lists, but it was a process of submitting, getting rejected, refining, trying again, and repeating. Many people give up. Others take years.

USMCFLYR

In my little corner of the FAA, getting your foot in the door in other part of the FAA and then eventually moving on to where they wanted to come in their case worked just fine. It took some time - but the INTERNAL application process and transfer worked for them; but much of this is a sign of the hiring practices of the last few years (up to a decade) due to the same problems dogging the rest of the economy.

Wingman - in my experience, having met with the CMO will not help you through HR (read my own experience example), but IF you can make it past HR, then having that contact could help with the rest of the process.

JohnBurke

Yes.

Despite the animosity between flight check and the "other part?"

Who'd have thought that the FAA would be issuing violations against their own people?

USMCFLYR

If so - share with us in what manner to make such wide sweeping accusations?



Which other part? Lots of parts in the FAA as you *say* you know.

What violations? Did their OWN people as you say break the rules?

You seem to be alluding to some specific examples of incidents in your post.
Why don't you share some details.

Wingman84

Thanks USMCFLYR
I defiantly hope to make it past HR. I put a great amount of thought and detail into writing my KSA questions. Now it looks like I need to just wait around for the next 10 years. The CMO manager did tell me to call him every few weeks, but I think I might wait until I hear something from HR. He seems very friendly possibly he is just board.

JohnBurke

Flight check personnel being issued violations by operations safety inspectors during ramp checks? Yes. I'm sure you know which violations. Flight check isn't that big a community, is it?

I think you know why.

JamesNoBrakes

Well I don't know about you, but I was told during my interview checkride that FAA personnel are not exempt from violations. Why would they be?

USMCFLYR

No I don't know why.
If you have some proof of something that you are trying to say - spell it out.
Otherwise - your cryptic messages are *IRRELEVANT*

JNB - my first ramp check came not too long on the ramp in OKC of all places! No problems that time around.

JohnBurke

They shouldn't be. Never the less, look at the track record. The FAA has a terrible record of following its own regulation. Recall the extend of unapproved and undocumented parts on board FAA aircraft, not so long ago?

I agree that the FAA should be held fully accountable.

I think the inspector who interrupted my emergency medical flight with a cardiac patient on board, and began screaming and yelling and rifling through confidential medical documents and tossing stuff out of the aircraft on the ramp (in front of witnesses) should have been censured the same as if a pilot had done that to him. It was intolerable. He was not.

I think the FSDO manager who called me into his office and demanded that I buy his secretary a dozen roses or suffer a violation was way off the mark and an idiot, but I bought the roses and moved on (despite having committed no violation of the regulation...it was cheaper than trying to argue with a stuffed suit in a position of authority).

I think the inspector who startled me by banging on my window while my engine was still turning, having cut short a checkride and jumped out of the applicant's airplane with the engines still turning to come after me, was unsafe and was actually interfering with the performance of my duties as a crew member, but did he suffer any enforcement action? Heck no. His parting shot, "You're right, and you'll win in the end, but I may just do it for spite" went unrecorded, but would have been solid gold in court. Too bad.

The inspector one cubicle over in a FSDO one day, whom I knew and whom I over heard say "I don't just want to violate this guy, but I want to ruin his life. I want to rip his heart out of his chest, still beating, and hold it up, bloody, for the world to see, just to make an example of him" was not within the bounds of reason or professionalism, either. I witnessed it, and it was abuse of his position. What was done to him? Nothing. The violation he was investigating? A 58 year old man who allegedly took partial compensation while flying a friend somewhere. Big freaking deal.

I'd love to see the FAA held to the same level of accountability, and I'd love to have seen the FAA enforce its own when using so many unapproved and undocumented parts on its "public use" aircraft, but hey, I'm just one of the guys who gets stuck and the short end of the Form 110A when the inspector comes knocking.

At least my socks match.