Been an HAA line pilot for 20 years.  Looking at an FAA positions?   

I am guessing they are hard jobs to get.    I see FSDO jobs and Flight Check jobs posted.     

Looks interesting.    

Guessing you need to have held a FAR119 position to get a FSDO job?    Might need to move to Alaska to get foot in the door?    

GS pay scale doesnt look to bad?   

Flight Check is a fixed wing job. There are rotary wing inspections but those guys are dual rated. You'll have to be a fixed-wing ATP to get a foot in the door.

You sir are mistaken.  I was offered a job as a Helicopter ASI with absolutely NO FW experience or ratings.  

I was referring to "Flight Check". The offices that fly around in a King Air or Challenger and flight check instrument procedures, airways etc. Different from and ASI. 

All government jobs are hard to get.

Unless you know someone. " Well "

The fastest way to get is to apply for a place no one wants to go. Everybody wants Arizona, Florida and Texas. But no one wants the Oklahoma of North Dakota.

Are not hard to get.

Gov jobs require gov type resumes. Look into it. It's not the "keep it to one page" scenario. If you get the job, do us a favor and do it well. 

I made the "jump" a couple of years ago and do not regret it.  After 20ish years of flying (mostly utility) I was able to take a vacation with my family during the summer a couple of years ago and pretty much know where I am going to be working (not much travel so far) all throughout the year.  No last minute "Hey, you are flying to (somewhere away from home) for a month starting tomorrow.  Go pack your bags.".  I can not speak to all locations but the FSDO that I work out of is very supportive of family/personal time.  Deadlines must be met but, if time off is preapproved, they don't take that away and ensure that another inspector will help your operators while you are gone.  

I miss the flying as we do very little of that.  We receive quarterly flight "instruction" and field rentals are possible to provide familiarization to specific aircraft that we might need to conduct a check ride in.  I don't know if Part 119 mgmt experience is necessary but it sure helps (former DO and check pilot).  Initial pay can be lower than many private sector jobs, but it can/usually will increase annually or with increased responsibilities.

If you love to fly, this might not be the job for you.  If you hate paperwork (computer based now) and working with alot of different people (air operators, cert holders, complainants, etc.) sounds horrible, this might not be the job for you.  If have flown alot, can give that up, and you want a consistent schedule with a decent retirement/benefit package this isn't a bad place.  Many will disagree and everybody is alowed their opinion/personal experience.

Try this link for info: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/career_fields/aviation_careers/asi/

My two cents.  Good luck.

I went through the process about 8 years ago.  It was a pain in the butt!  You have to fill out the job application, and submit a resume formatted, EXACTLY the way the feds want it or it gets kick out of the line and you'll never know why, so be careful and pay attention to detail.  I was a Training Manager at the time and dealt with an ASI a lot who I asked to help me through that process.  He was a great asset and I'll always be grateful for his help! 

The other thing is it took me close to a year to go through the entire process, which included; a couple of phone interviews, an in person interview and check ride with the FAA's Helicopter Chief Pilot in Texas and a background check with couple of interviews with (I believe but don't quote me on this) a TSA Inspector.  Unfortunately, by the time the HR folks called me and said I was their guy, I had accepted an OCONUS IP position for about 3 times the $$. 

Man, were they POed!  The FAA HR Rep was pretty upset and told me I had "screwed everything up" for them.  I told her they had no one to blame but themselves.  That had the process not taken almost a year I'd probably be at the FSDO that very moment and wouldn't have ever considered another offer!

The funny part for me is the next two times I flew commercially in the USA I was selected for "enhanced screening."  That had never happened before.  After the second time I asked the TSA guy if this "happened to everyone who turned down a job with the FAA?"  He asked what I meant, so I explained things to him.  He assured me it was "just coincidence."  All I know is it hasn't happened since!!!

Slow, inefficient, clueless, on their own time schedule. Just another bureaucracy steeped in red tape and unable to self correct. They are a clown show at best.

anybody that uses ATC, especially under IFR, knows they are a top-notch and invaluable service.

consumate professionals. look at the way our airports are maintained. this doesn't just happen.

I just want to correct my prior statement.  I double checked some calendars and planners, and it was a bit over an 8 month process for me.  Not "almost a year" as I had stated earlier, but IMHO still too long.

Also, contrary to some of the other comments, I had no "in" with the FAA and the ASI position was at the Scottsdale AZ FSDO.  I personally think the diversity and depth of your experience, your ability at interpersonal relationships and communication, and how well you present yourself will have much more to do with your success at landing the job than anything else.

Good Luck!

and with respect, learn to spell and write a little better, that would be number one.

Then, apply.  After 20 years in the seat you'll also need to assure you have organizational skills.  Suggest knowing how to run a digital library of filing, that way you'll always have your finger tip on what you need when you need it.

Don't think you won't be out conducting private pilot check rides.  Still interested?

your advice is spot on.  Today's citizens are very poor with respect to the English/American language, which, also devolves understanding of reality.

"devolves"? now here's a guy that understands both English and reality. lol