How do ICAO, FAA, IEC and BIS/IS compare?
They are not rival versions of one rulebook — each answers a different question about the same lighting system.
Comparing AGL standards starts with asking which question each one answers. ICAO (with DGCA in India) says what the lighting must achieve: pattern, colour, intensity and placement. FAA, IEC and BIS/IS documents say how the equipment is built and tested, such as fixtures, CCRs and transformers.
The same part can therefore have several documents, for example a CCR under FAA AC 150/5345-10, IEC 61822 and IS 12291. They use different test methods and limits, so figures cannot be swapped freely. The project’s named governing standard decides which one applies.
- Ask the question. Is it what must be seen, or how the equipment is made?
- Pick the document. Match the part to ICAO, FAA, IEC or IS using the matrix.
- Keep one basis. Do not mix limits and test methods from different documents.
- Record deviations. If the contract allows an alternative, write down which clause and why.
The performance side: what the pilot must see, and where each light goes.
The equipment side: how fixtures, regulators and transformers are specified, built and tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1Which AGL standard is the strictest?
None is strictest overall, because they cover different things. ICAO and DGCA set what the lighting must achieve, while FAA, IEC and IS documents set how equipment is built and tested. Compare them clause by clause for the specific requirement you care about, and note the test conditions behind each figure.
Q2Can I mix requirements from different standards?
Avoid it. Figures from one document rest on that document's own test methods, so combining an FAA limit with an IEC test, for example, can leave gaps or conflicts. Name one governing basis in the specification, and record any deliberate deviation.
Q3Do the standards give different numbers for the same thing?
Sometimes. A BIS review of the inset fittings standard found that IS 11071 allowed a 13 mm maximum projection above the pavement against 12 mm in the FAA document, and set a higher minimum insulation resistance (100 megohm against 50). Treat these as examples and check the current editions.
Q4Why do Indian tenders often cite FAA and ICAO?
The same BIS review recorded that tenders for inset lights cite FAA and ICAO Annex 14 because the Indian Standards are old, and that testing was often done in foreign laboratories. A project specification, not this page, decides what applies.
Q5Where do FAA documents sit in the comparison?
The FAA straddles both sides. Its advisory circulars describe equipment such as fixtures and CCRs, and also cover design and installation details. They are advisory in general, but become binding where a funding condition, certification or contract requires them.
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