What is sign inspection?
A planned look at a sign’s condition, day and night: face, housing, mount, base and view, with every defect recorded and reported.
Sign inspection is a planned look at a sign's condition. It does not clean, repair or measure. It finds problems and reports them, so maintenance can fix them and testing can prove the fix.
1Look from where it is used
A sign is judged from the pilot's or driver's viewpoint, by day and by night. By day: is the face clean and undamaged, is the sign upright and facing the right way, and is the view clear of grass, snow or equipment? At night: does the whole message light evenly and read clearly?
2Look closely at intervals
At longer intervals the inspection goes up close: the housing for cracks, seals and water, the mount for loose fasteners or a damaged frangible leg, and the base for a seated cover, movement of the ground and standing water. Opening the sign or touching wiring needs the circuit isolated, locked out and proved dead.
3Record and report
Every defect is recorded with the sign's location, what was seen and how serious it is, then reported for repair. A sign that cannot be read, or that is out of place, may need prompt action. Records show repeat faults over time.
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Face and legend | Clean, undamaged, not faded, correct message and colours |
| Housing | No cracks, seals intact, no water inside |
| Mount | Fasteners tight, frangible legs sound, sign upright |
| Ground and base | Cover seated, no ground movement, no standing water |
| View | Facing the right way and not blocked |
| Night | Whole message lit evenly and legible |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is sign inspection?
A planned check of a sign's condition, mostly by eye: the face and legend, the housing and seals, the mount, the base, and whether the sign can be seen and read, by day and by night.
Q2How is inspection different from maintenance and testing?
Inspection looks and reports on condition. Maintenance cleans, repairs and replaces. Testing measures, for example continuity and insulation resistance. An inspection finds the problem, maintenance fixes it, and testing proves the fix.
Q3How often are signs inspected?
That depends on the airport's inspection programme. Signs are checked on routine inspections, with a closer look at longer intervals, and again after a report of a fault or an event such as impact or jet blast.
Q4What happens when a defect is found?
It is recorded with the sign's location, what was seen and how serious it is, then reported so maintenance can be scheduled. A sign that cannot be read or is out of place may need prompt action.
Q5Does the circuit need to be isolated?
Not for a look from outside. Opening the sign, or touching connectors or wiring, needs the circuit isolated, locked out and proved dead first, under site procedures.
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