Controlled procedures for routine airfield ground lighting inspection — daily, runway, taxiway, approach lighting, PAPI, signage and stop bar checks, runway guard light, fixture, cable route, transformer pit, base can and connector inspection, CCR/control room and earthing inspection, FOD and water ingress inspection, and post-maintenance verification prior to return to service. Applicable SOP range: SOP-321 to SOP-340.
Technical Control — Inspection frequency, acceptance criteria and operational tolerances shall be based on the approved airport maintenance program, applicable aerodrome standards, equipment manufacturer requirements and local regulatory requirements. An inspection finding shall not be treated as acceptable merely because the light remains operational.
To establish a systematic daily inspection of AGL assets to identify defects that could affect aerodrome safety, operational availability or maintenance condition.
To inspect runway AGL systems and associated areas for defects affecting runway operational safety.
To verify the condition of taxiway AGL systems and identify defects.
To inspect approach lighting systems and supporting structures.
Critical Note — Routine visual inspection does not replace formal PAPI alignment/photometric verification.
To inspect PAPI equipment for physical, optical, electrical and alignment condition.
To verify physical, electrical and message condition of airfield signs.
To verify the condition and operational status of stop bar lighting.
To inspect Runway Guard Lights (RGL) for physical and operational condition.
To assess the physical condition of individual AGL light fixtures.
Findings may be classified as Critical → Major → Minor → Observation according to the airport's approved defect classification.
To identify conditions that could damage AGL primary/secondary cable systems.
To inspect AGL isolation-transformer pits for physical and environmental condition.
To inspect base cans and associated fixtures for structural, alignment and drainage condition.
To identify deterioration or failure conditions in AGL connectors.
To inspect the CCR room and associated environmental conditions.
To inspect CCR panels for physical, electrical and operational abnormalities.
To verify the operational condition of the AGL control room and ALCMS equipment.
To visually and electrically inspect accessible AGL earthing and bonding arrangements.
To identify and remove/report Foreign Object Debris that could present a hazard to aircraft or damage AGL equipment.
To identify water ingress that could compromise AGL equipment reliability.
To verify that AGL equipment and the work area are safe, complete and operational after maintenance.
The master inspection workflow, defect classification, the master inspection checklist and the golden rule that governs all 20 Division 16 procedures.
For daily, routine and post-maintenance airfield ground lighting inspection:
Every inspection finding should be categorized consistently. The exact classification criteria should be defined by the airport's approved maintenance system.
Equipment shall only be returned to normal operational service after this sequence is complete (see SOP-340):
"An AGL inspection is not simply a search for lights that are OFF. A professional inspection verifies the complete condition of the airfield lighting asset — operational performance, alignment, physical integrity, electrical condition, civil interface, cable/connector condition, earthing, water ingress, FOD and documentation — and converts every abnormal finding into a traceable corrective action."
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 AGL Inspection SOPs in the AGL SOP Library.
Division 16 is a set of 20 procedures (SOP-321 to SOP-340, Rev 0) for routine airfield ground lighting inspection. It covers daily, runway, taxiway, approach, PAPI, signage and stop bar checks, runway guard light, fixture, cable route, transformer pit, base can and connector inspection, CCR and control room inspection, earthing, FOD and water ingress inspection, and post-maintenance verification before return to service.
The approved airport maintenance program, applicable aerodrome standards, equipment manufacturer requirements and local regulatory requirements. An inspection finding must not be treated as acceptable merely because the light remains operational.
SOP-321 covers runway, taxiway and approach lighting, PAPI, airfield signs, stop bars, runway guard lights, fixtures, base cans, visible cable and connector areas, transformer pits, CCR and control equipment, FOD, water accumulation and physical damage. It starts with inspection authorization, coordination with Airport Operations/ATC as required, and an airside safety briefing.
Critical (potential immediate operational or safety impact, needing immediate escalation), Major (significant equipment or reliability issue, priority corrective maintenance), Minor (no immediate effect on operation, planned maintenance) and Observation (a condition to monitor, tracked and trended). The exact criteria come from the airport's approved maintenance system.
Lens or prism, housing, gasket, fasteners, mounting, frangible coupling, cable connection, corrosion, cracks, contamination, water ingress and alignment (SOP-329). Findings are classified as Critical, Major, Minor or Observation per the airport's defect classification.
SOP-338 inspects runways, taxiways, shoulders, AGL work areas, areas around fixtures, base cans, transformer pits, maintenance areas and vehicle routes, before and after work. FOD is removed when safe and authorized, significant FOD is reported, the source is checked where possible, and recurring FOD issues are recorded.
SOP-340 verifies that equipment and the work area are safe, complete and operational. Tools, materials, waste and FOD are cleared, covers installed, excavations closed and temporary protection removed. Electrical connections and earthing are verified, insulation and continuity testing is done where applicable, LOTO is removed through the approved process, and equipment is energized and checked.
Knowing the inspection checklist is essential. Understanding what each inspection point reveals about AGL system condition takes deeper technical knowledge.
Learn through structured training covering:
Develop the technical foundation to work with AGL systems systematically, safely and confidently.
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