Following Division 09 — PAPI/APAPI Testing & Commissioning, Division 10 establishes the complete commissioning process for illuminated airfield signs. It verifies that each sign is correctly installed, identified, positioned, oriented, mechanically secured, electrically connected, illuminated and visible, and that its message, colour, brightness and functional performance comply with the approved design and applicable requirements before final acceptance.
Philosophy: a sign is evaluated as a complete chain — correct sign → correct message → correct location → correct orientation → correct mounting → correct electrical connection → healthy cable → healthy connector → correct LED module → correct driver → correct voltage → correct illumination → correct brightness → correct colour → adequate visibility → correct functional response → accepted airfield sign. Message verification and visibility verification are separate acceptance criteria — a sign may be electrically perfect and fully illuminated but still unacceptable if the message is incorrect, the sign is incorrectly oriented, or the operational visibility is inadequate.
The recommended sequence carries every sign through the same underlying path — installation → identification → message → location → orientation → mounting → electrical → cable → connector → LED/driver → voltage → illumination → brightness → colour → visibility → functional test → acceptance → report — whatever its type or location.
Airfield sign commissioning should not stop at “the sign is ON.” Every link below has to hold before the sign is accepted.
| Link | What It Confirms |
|---|---|
| Correct Sign | The right sign type, category, and size is installed at the right location |
| Correct Message | The installed legend, characters, arrows, and colours exactly match the approved sign schedule |
| Correct Location | Longitudinal/transverse position and offset match the approved layout |
| Correct Orientation | The sign face is aligned to the intended viewing direction with no obstruction |
| Correct Mounting | Support structure, foundation, and hardware are mechanically stable |
| Correct Electrical Connection | Circuit, supply connection, termination, and polarity are correctly made |
| Healthy Cable | Cable continuity, insulation, and termination are verified |
| Healthy Connector | Connector contact, mating, locking, and sealing are correctly made |
| Correct LED Module | The complete sign face illuminates uniformly with no dark sections |
| Correct Driver | Driver rating, input/output connection, and output stability are verified |
| Correct Voltage | Input and internal voltages are within the applicable operating range |
| Correct Illumination | The entire sign face illuminates with no dark or intermittent sections |
| Correct Brightness | Brightness/intensity is within the applicable requirement at every setting |
| Correct Colour | Background, legend, and illumination colour are correct and consistent |
| Adequate Visibility | The sign is legible and unobstructed from its intended operational viewing direction |
| Correct Functional Response | ON/OFF, switching, dimming, and local/remote control all respond correctly |
| Accepted Airfield Sign | All applicable results are recorded and formally accepted |
Two conditions should be established before any airfield sign is worked through this division.
Grouped by commissioning focus, in the order each sign is normally worked through — click any topic to expand its verification checks and acceptance criteria.
Hold Point: any deviation from the approved sign layout or schedule is resolved before proceeding.
Acceptance Criteria: every installed sign is uniquely and traceably identified across every reference document.
Hold Point: a correctly illuminated sign with an incorrect message is a failed sign — this is one of the most important sign commissioning checks.
Acceptance Criteria: the sign's physical location matches the approved layout within the applicable deviation basis.
Hold Point: orientation is verified against the approved sign layout and applicable aerodrome criteria — never assumed from installation alone.
Acceptance Criteria: the sign structure is mechanically stable with no loose, damaged, or corroded hardware.
Hold Point: incorrect polarity or a wrong circuit connection is resolved before proceeding to cable and connector testing.
Acceptance Criteria: cable continuity, insulation where applicable, and termination are all verified against the project specification.
Acceptance Criteria: every relevant connector is correctly mated, locked, sealed, and free of corrosion or moisture ingress.
Hold Point: a sign is not accepted solely because some LEDs illuminate — verify the complete sign face.
Acceptance Criteria: the driver delivers a stable, correctly rated output with no fault indication or abnormal heating.
Acceptance Criteria: measured input voltage stays within the manufacturer/project-defined operating range.
Hold Point: internal measurements are only performed according to the manufacturer's approved test procedure — do not perform invasive measurements on sealed or sensitive electronic equipment unless permitted.
Acceptance Criteria: the complete sign face illuminates uniformly with no dark sections and no abnormal or intermittent behaviour.
Hold Point: brightness acceptance values come from the applicable approved specification/standard rather than being assumed.
Acceptance Criteria: background, legend, and illumination colours are correct, consistent, and free of abnormal shift or discolouration.
Hold Point: visibility testing is a system/operational verification, not simply a close-range visual inspection.
Acceptance Criteria: the sign responds correctly across every applicable operating condition and control path.
Acceptance Criteria: every installation, electrical, equipment, optical, and functional item is verified, closed, and documented before the sign is accepted for service.
Acceptance Criteria: each sign or defined sign group has an individual, traceable commissioning report — this closes Division 10 for that unit and releases the airfield sign as accepted.
Division 10 runs as a single continuous sequence per sign, following Division 01 — Pre-Commissioning Verification, through to the sign commissioning report and final acceptance as an airfield sign.
Division 01 pre-commissioning verification is complete for this circuit.
Verify sign identity and confirm the installed message against the schedule.
Confirm position and viewing direction against the approved layout.
Confirm mechanical stability of structure and hardware.
Verify circuit, supply connection, and terminal condition.
Test cable integrity and connector mating/sealing.
Verify LED module condition and driver output stability.
Confirm input and internal voltages are within range.
Confirm the complete sign face illuminates uniformly.
Verify intensity settings and correct, consistent colour.
Confirm legibility and contrast from operational viewing positions.
Verify switching, dimming, and local/remote control response.
Complete the full acceptance checklist across every category.
Compile the traceable report and release as an accepted airfield sign.
Quick answers about Division 10 — Airfield Sign Testing & Commissioning in the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual.
Division 10 of the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual covers Airfield Sign Testing & Commissioning. Following Division 09 — PAPI/APAPI Testing & Commissioning, Division 10 establishes the complete commissioning process for illuminated airfield signs. It verifies that each sign is correctly installed, identified, positioned, oriented, mechanically secured, electrically connected, illuminated and visible, and that its message, colour, brightness and functional performance comply with the approved design and applicable requirements before final acceptance. It contains 20 topics (TC-SIGN-001 to TC-SIGN-020) organised into 7 groups (A–G), each topic with its own verification checks.
A sign is evaluated as a complete chain — correct sign → correct message → correct location → correct orientation → correct mounting → correct electrical connection → healthy cable → healthy connector → correct LED module → correct driver → correct voltage → correct illumination → correct brightness → correct colour → adequate visibility → correct functional response → accepted airfield sign. Message verification and visibility verification are separate acceptance criteria — a sign may be electrically perfect and fully illuminated but still unacceptable if the message is incorrect, the sign is incorrectly oriented, or the operational visibility is inadequate.
The recommended sequence carries every sign through the same underlying path — installation → identification → message → location → orientation → mounting → electrical → cable → connector → LED/driver → voltage → illumination → brightness → colour → visibility → functional test → acceptance → report — whatever its type or location. Steps: Identify → Verify Message → Verify Position → Verify Mounting → Verify Electrical → Verify Equipment → Verify Voltage → Verify Optical → Verify Function → Accept & Report. Focus areas: Identification & message accuracy; Positional & mechanical condition; Electrical & equipment integrity; Optical & visibility performance; Functional response.
Division 10 has 20 topics in 7 groups. A — Identification & Message: Sign Installation Verification, Sign Identification Verification, Sign Message Verification. B — Positional Verification: Sign Location Verification, Sign Orientation Verification. C — Mounting & Electrical Connection: Sign Mounting Verification, Sign Electrical Connection Verification, Sign Cable Testing. D — Connector & Equipment: Sign Connector Testing, LED-Module Testing, Driver Testing. E — Voltage Verification: Input-Voltage Verification, Internal-Voltage Verification. F — Optical & Visibility: Illumination Testing, Brightness Verification, Colour Verification, Visibility Verification. G — Functional & Acceptance: Functional Testing, Sign Acceptance Testing, Sign Commissioning Report.
Airfield sign commissioning should not stop at “the sign is ON.” Every link below has to hold before the sign is accepted. Correct Sign: The right sign type, category, and size is installed at the right location; Correct Message: The installed legend, characters, arrows, and colours exactly match the approved sign schedule; Correct Location: Longitudinal/transverse position and offset match the approved layout; Correct Orientation: The sign face is aligned to the intended viewing direction with no obstruction; Correct Mounting: Support structure, foundation, and hardware are mechanically stable; Correct Electrical Connection: Circuit, supply connection, termination, and polarity are correctly made; Healthy Cable: Cable continuity, insulation, and termination are verified; Healthy Connector: Connector contact, mating, locking, and sealing are correctly made; Correct LED Module: The complete sign face illuminates uniformly with no dark sections; Correct Driver: Driver rating, input/output connection, and output stability are verified; Correct Voltage: Input and internal voltages are within the applicable operating range; Correct Illumination: The entire sign face illuminates with no dark or intermittent sections; Correct Brightness: Brightness/intensity is within the applicable requirement at every setting; Correct Colour: Background, legend, and illumination colour are correct and consistent; Adequate Visibility: The sign is legible and unobstructed from its intended operational viewing direction; Correct Functional Response: ON/OFF, switching, dimming, and local/remote control all respond correctly; Accepted Airfield Sign: All applicable results are recorded and formally accepted.
Two conditions should be established before any airfield sign is worked through this division. Numerical Limits Are Not Universal: Brightness acceptance values come from the applicable approved specification/standard, not assumed from this topic list; Input and internal voltage acceptance ranges are taken from manufacturer and project documentation; Internal measurements are only performed according to the manufacturer's approved test procedure — do not perform invasive measurements on sealed or sensitive electronics unless permitted; A correctly illuminated sign with an incorrect message is a failed sign — message accuracy is never inferred from illumination.
Division boundary: Division 10 follows Division 09 — PAPI/APAPI Testing & Commissioning in the overall sequence; Message verification and visibility verification are distinct acceptance criteria from electrical and illumination testing; Visibility testing is a system/operational verification, not simply a close-range visual inspection; No sign is released as commissioned until every applicable item in this division is closed and reported.
Division 10 runs as a single continuous sequence per sign, following Division 01 — Pre-Commissioning Verification, through to the sign commissioning report and final acceptance as an airfield sign. (1) Pre-Commissioning — Division 01 pre-commissioning verification is complete for this circuit; (2) Identification & Message — Verify sign identity and confirm the installed message against the schedule; (3) Location & Orientation — Confirm position and viewing direction against the approved layout; (4) Mounting Verification — Confirm mechanical stability of structure and hardware; (5) Electrical Connection — Verify circuit, supply connection, and terminal condition; (6) Cable & Connector — Test cable integrity and connector mating/sealing; (7) LED Module & Driver — Verify LED module condition and driver output stability; (8) Voltage Verification — Confirm input and internal voltages are within range; (9) Illumination Testing — Confirm the complete sign face illuminates uniformly; (10) Brightness & Colour — Verify intensity settings and correct, consistent colour; (11) Visibility Verification — Confirm legibility and contrast from operational viewing positions; (12) Functional Testing — Verify switching, dimming, and local/remote control response; (13) Sign Acceptance Test — Complete the full acceptance checklist across every category; (14) Commissioning Report — Compile the traceable report and release as an accepted airfield sign.
Airfield sign testing confirms that guidance, mandatory, and information signage performs exactly as pilots depend on it to.
Build the technical knowledge to understand internal illumination uniformity, legend visibility, and circuit integration, and how sign-level results support safe ground navigation.
Test with precision. Communicate with confidence. Commission with certainty.
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