I'd created a thread in the career questions forum about ASI jobs, but I somehow managed to completely miss the (very useful) discussion going on here.

As a bit of background, I have an interview coming up for a General Aviation inspector position in a couple of weeks, after applying about a year ago and forgetting about the application until I got invited for the interview. Since then, I got hired by a decent regional, which would pose a bit of a dilemma if I did well enough on the interview to get a job invite.


The interview is for the Portland FSDO, but I've had no interaction with that office on the GA side. Do any of you folks know if it's supposed to be a decent place to work?

I've been doing as much research and "soul searching" as possible since I got the interview invite, and all I've managed to figure out is that there really wouldn't be a clearly good or bad option if I manage to get a job offer, since I love flying, but the FAA sounds like it's got potential to be more interesting than "fly from point A to B" for the rest of my career.

Portland OR, or ME, as they each have a FSDO? I've heard that the Portland ME culture is pretty good, etc.

Is all of the interviewing and hiring now being done in Denver? Anyone have any recent gouge to share?

There are a couple of other threads - check them out.

My interview was in Dallas, for a Midwest FSDO.

The word on the street is for Air Carrier Ops, DEN is the National hiring center.

I was able to do the initial (HR style) interview at my regional office. I flew to DFW for the flight test.

It was about 2.5 weeks between the interview and the flight test.

Just a little update. I received my official offer letter about a week after my check flight. I might have received it earlier but I did not turn in my fingerprints in till the day before. Everyone at HR was very helpful and I am excited to get started. For anyone still in the process the check flight is just like the handout they sent expect about 2.5hrs flight time. The guy who did my flight was great and very helpful minus a few call outs for altitude but no biggy, he handled radios and avionics ect. All I had to do was fly the plan. Only one thing confused me in the handout there is a basic oral exam nothing to fret over but in the handout made it seem like it might be a multiple choice or some kind of written test. Anyway good luck to all those still interviewing.

I got a firm offer as well! I'll be starting with the FAA in a few weeks.

Does anyone have any info on the string classes?

How long are you in OKC? How often? Is it for the full first year of your probation or just a couple months?

Thank you

First one was around 3 weeks, 2nd was around 4, last one was around 2. You might have at least a few months before you head down for any of the classes, and you might have a month in between them. You will also likely go to OKC every year for some kind of classes/continuing education, but at that point it will be just for a few days or weeks.

For those who went through the USAJobs process, how long did it take for your application package to change from "received" to anything else? I turned my package in on 21 Sept, and not much has happened since. Thanks!

Mine happened within a couple of days, but I had someone on the inside pushing for me.

Even though the new fiscal year has happened, this is still hiring going on. That being said, our region is about 13 over their personnel allotment, IIRC, but they are okay with that, knowing they'll thin the ranks thru attrition. If you have targeted somewhere you'd like to work, I would not hesitate to call, or e-mail, either the office manager or front line manager and ask them the status. From my recent experience, they'll all be open to tell you what's going on (as far as whether they have authorization or plans to hire). Unfortunately, hiring is controlled by HR at the regional level, so sometimes the local office just has to shake their head at some of the hiring shenanigans.

Where you hoping to land?