Controlled procedures for authorizing, executing and closing out AGL work within the airport operational area — work permits, active runway/taxiway proximity, night-time and adverse-weather maintenance, FOD and tool control, coordination with ATC/Operations/CNS-ATM, emergency withdrawal, and returning equipment to service.
Important — These SOPs are a technical framework. The airport's approved Airside Driving Rules, Permit-to-Work system, SMS procedures, ATC instructions, NOTAM procedures, emergency procedures and local aerodrome regulations shall always take precedence.
To establish a controlled process for authorizing maintenance, inspection, testing, installation and repair activities within the airport operational area.
This SOP applies to all AGL-related personnel performing work on runways, taxiways, aprons, shoulders, cable routes, AGL pits, electrical rooms and other restricted airside locations.
To ensure that AGL maintenance is formally authorized before any system, circuit or field equipment is disturbed.
Before commencing work:
Any work outside the original scope shall require reauthorization.
No technician shall assume that an AGL circuit is de-energized merely because the lights are OFF.
Critical Rule — OFF indication is not proof of electrical isolation.
To control electrical work involving CCRs, transformers, distribution panels, AGL circuits, control systems and associated equipment.
To prevent personnel, vehicles and equipment from creating a hazard during work near an operational runway.
Before entering the runway environment:
If instructed to vacate, all non-essential work shall stop immediately and the team shall withdraw using the approved route.
To control AGL work adjacent to or within the vicinity of an operational taxiway.
To control additional risks associated with AGL maintenance performed during hours of darkness.
Personnel shall have:
Before starting:
To control access to restricted airport areas.
Personnel shall:
To ensure safe operation of vehicles within the airside environment.
Drivers shall:
If an airside vehicle becomes disabled:
To ensure maintenance vehicles are positioned without creating an aviation or electrical hazard.
Before positioning:
Vehicles shall be removed immediately when requested by Airport Operations or ATC.
To clearly identify and control an AGL maintenance work area.
The supervisor shall:
Barricades shall never be positioned where they create an aircraft clearance or navigation hazard.
To prevent maintenance activities from damaging operational airfield lighting or creating misleading visual guidance.
During work:
Any temporary outage affecting operational lighting shall be reported through the airport's approved process.
To prevent Foreign Object Debris/Damage (FOD) generated by AGL maintenance.
Before work:
During work:
After work:
To verify that the work area is free from FOD before being released.
The responsible supervisor shall inspect:
The area shall be released only after satisfactory inspection.
To prevent tools from becoming FOD or being left inside operational areas.
A missing tool shall be treated as a potential FOD event until its location is confirmed.
To control portable electrical and maintenance equipment used airside.
Before use:
After use:
To ensure that all personnel working airside can be readily identified and authorized.
Personnel shall:
Supervisors shall maintain an accurate list of personnel assigned to the work.
To establish reliable communication between maintenance personnel and airport stakeholders.
Communication may include:
Before work:
During work:
Critical Rule — ATC clearance/authorization shall be treated as conditional and subject to operational requirements.
To ensure that AGL maintenance activities do not interfere with aircraft operations.
Where required by airport procedures:
To establish coordination between AGL maintenance and Airport Operations.
Airport Operations shall be the appropriate operational coordination point as defined by the airport's procedures.
The AGL team shall communicate:
Any change to the planned work shall be communicated before proceeding.
To control AGL work that may interface with CNS/ATM infrastructure or airport operational systems.
Coordination may be required where work affects:
To control AGL maintenance during reduced visibility conditions such as fog, heavy rain, dust or other conditions affecting visual awareness.
Before work:
During work:
Work shall be suspended when environmental conditions prevent the team from maintaining safe control of personnel, vehicles, tools or equipment.
To protect personnel and AGL equipment during adverse weather.
To establish a rapid withdrawal procedure when continued work becomes unsafe.
Withdrawal may be required because of:
To ensure that an AGL work area is safe before being returned to Airport Operations.
The area shall not be declared clear until the responsible supervisor is satisfied that the work area is safe.
To ensure that AGL equipment is safely and correctly returned to operational service after maintenance.
Step 1 — Physical Inspection
Inspect:
Step 2 — Electrical Verification
Perform applicable tests such as:
Testing shall follow the applicable equipment manufacturer's requirements and approved airport procedures.
Step 3 — Functional Test
Verify:
Step 4 — Operational Coordination
Notify the responsible Airport Operations/ATC/technical authority as applicable before returning affected equipment or circuits to service.
Step 5 — Restoration
Remove authorized isolation/LOTO only according to the approved procedure.
Restore the equipment in a controlled sequence.
Step 6 — Final Inspection
Confirm:
Step 7 — Documentation
Record:
Common rules, briefing minimums, safety sequence and records that apply across all 25 Division 01 procedures.
Every person involved in AGL maintenance has a responsibility to stop work when an immediate or uncontrolled safety risk is identified.
Examples include
Work shall resume only after the hazard has been controlled and the responsible authority has authorized continuation.
Before commencing airside AGL work, the supervisor should brief the team on:
The following sequence should be applied whenever applicable:
Never assume
Always
The AGL maintenance organization should maintain, as applicable:
Each airport should adapt these SOPs to its own Aerodrome Manual, Safety Management System (SMS), Airside Operations Manual, Permit-to-Work system, Electrical Safety Rules, LOTO procedure, ATC procedures, airport security procedures, emergency response procedures, FOD Management Programme, Airside Driving Rules, AGL maintenance procedures, and applicable national and international requirements.
Local airport procedures and authorized operational instructions shall take precedence wherever they impose more restrictive requirements.
Technical references behind the procedures in this division:
References are given at document or chapter level for technical orientation. Confirm the current edition, amendments and national adoption (for example DGCA CAR Section 4, FAA Advisory Circulars or EASA material) for each project. Approved project specifications, manufacturer instructions and the airport's own procedures take precedence, as stated in the precedence note above.
Quick answers about airside safety and work permit procedures in the AGL SOP Library.
Division 01 is a set of 25 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP-01 to SOP-25, Rev 0) for authorizing, executing and closing out AGL work inside the airport operational area. It covers work permits, runway and taxiway proximity, night, low-visibility and adverse-weather maintenance, FOD and tool control, coordination with ATC, Airport Operations and CNS/ATM teams, emergency withdrawal, and return to service.
No. These SOPs are a technical framework. The airport's approved Airside Driving Rules, Permit-to-Work system, SMS procedures, ATC instructions, NOTAM procedures, emergency procedures and local aerodrome regulations always take precedence, and local procedures apply wherever they are more restrictive.
The work must be authorized through an airside work permit issued by the responsible airport authority. Before entering, the team identifies the work location and activity, defines equipment, personnel, vehicles and tools, completes a job safety or risk assessment, confirms access restrictions and duration, coordinates with Airport Operations and ATC where required, and briefs all personnel (SOP-01).
No. The Electrical Work Permit (SOP-03) states that an OFF indication is not proof of isolation. The circuit must be isolated, locked and tagged out under an approved LOTO procedure, isolation verified, absence of voltage tested with approved equipment, and stored energy discharged where applicable before work begins.
Obtain explicit authorization, coordinate with ATC and Airport Operations as required, confirm runway status, establish approved entry and exit routes, and confirm radio communication. Keep personnel and equipment to a minimum, maintain situational awareness, control tools and materials, and vacate immediately when instructed (SOP-04, SOP-05).
No. ATC clearance or authorization is conditional and subject to operational requirements (SOP-18). Teams must follow ATC instructions, monitor operational changes, vacate the area immediately when instructed, report runway or taxiway clearance, and never assume permission continues indefinitely.
Tools and equipment are counted before work, a controlled tool and material area is set up, and small parts are kept in containers. Screws, wire pieces, cable ties, packaging and waste must not be left airside. After work the supervisor inspects the work area, pits, fixtures, cable routes, vehicle position, access route and adjacent pavement, and the area is released only after a satisfactory inspection (SOP-12, SOP-13).
Night work requires approved PPE, high-visibility clothing, task lighting, communication equipment, approved vehicle lighting and a night-work briefing (SOP-06). In low visibility, work is suspended if the team cannot maintain safe control of personnel, vehicles, tools or equipment (SOP-21). In adverse weather such as lightning, heavy rain or strong winds, teams protect open electrical equipment, avoid exposed electrical work, withdraw to a safe location, and resume only after authorization and reassessment (SOP-22).
Every person involved in AGL maintenance has stop-work authority when an immediate or uncontrolled safety risk is identified. Examples include unexpected aircraft movement, loss of communication, an electrical hazard, severe weather, uncontrolled FOD, unauthorized personnel in the work area, a vehicle conflict or unexpected AGL energization. Work resumes only after the hazard is controlled and the responsible authority authorizes continuation.
Stop work immediately, make equipment safe only if this does not delay withdrawal, and collect only essential equipment if safe. Follow the designated escape route to the approved safe location, account for all personnel, notify Airport Operations or the supervisor, and report missing personnel immediately. Do not re-enter until formally authorized (SOP-23).
Work completion clearance (SOP-24) requires work completed to scope, connections and fasteners secured, tools and materials accounted for and removed, FOD inspection completed, operational tests done, defects recorded, and Airport Operations or ATC notified as required. The area is not declared clear until the responsible supervisor is satisfied it is safe. Return to service (SOP-25) follows physical inspection, electrical verification and functional testing per manufacturer requirements and approved airport procedures.
As applicable: Airside Work Permit, AGL Maintenance Authorization, Electrical Work Permit, LOTO Record, Risk Assessment/JSA, Personnel Attendance Record, Vehicle Entry/Movement Record, Tool Control Record, FOD Inspection Record, Equipment Inspection Record, Test/Measurement Record, Work Completion Certificate, Return-to-Service Record, Defect/Failure Report, Emergency/Incident Report and Communication/Coordination Record.
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