How is an apron lit?
Floodlight masts light the stands, while taxilane lights and stand guidance lead each aircraft to its parking position.
The apron is where aircraft park for boarding, loading, refuelling and servicing. Its lighting has two jobs: floodlighting so the stands and the people working on them can be seen, and guidance that leads each aircraft from the apron taxilane to its stand.
Floodlights are placed so each stand is lit from two or more directions, which reduces shadows, and aimed so they do not dazzle pilots, controllers or apron staff, and their colour must let aircraft and surface markings be identified correctly. Depending on the design, the taxilane has green centreline lights, blue edge lights, or both, and each stand may have a lead-in line with guidance lights and a visual docking guidance system at the stand head.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is apron lighting?
The lighting that lets aircraft stands, taxilanes and the people and vehicles working on them be seen at night. It combines floodlighting of the apron with lights and guidance systems for aircraft moving onto the stands.
Q2What are the main parts of an apron lighting layout?
Floodlight masts or poles around the stands, green centreline and/or blue edge lights on the apron taxilane, stand manoeuvring guidance lights where provided, a visual docking guidance system at the stand head, and signs and markings.
Q3Why are aircraft stands lit from more than one direction?
Light from two or more directions reduces shadows around the aircraft and the ground crew. The floodlights are also placed and aimed so they do not dazzle pilots, controllers or apron personnel.
Q4What illuminance does an apron need?
ICAO Annex 14 recommends an average of 20 lux horizontal on an aircraft stand, with an average to minimum ratio of not more than 4 to 1, and 20 lux vertical at 2 m above the apron. Other apron areas should have at least 50 per cent of the stand average.
See It. Understand It. Then Learn How to Engineer It.
Recognising an AGL system visually is the first step. The next step is knowing how to design, install, test, commission and maintain them correctly.
Build Practical AGL Engineering Skills
Go deeper with structured training from Precision AGL Academy, covering:
Learn how each light, sign and circuit works as part of a complete airport lighting system, not just as an isolated diagram.