What is an elevated runway edge light?
An above-ground, frangible fixture on a short riser that marks the runway edge — built to guide the pilot, and to break away safely if it is ever struck.
An elevated runway edge light is the above-ground form of the runway edge fixture. A lamp head sits on a short riser, which stands on a frangible coupling fixed to a light base set in the ground beside the runway. The fixture is placed along the edge of the area declared for use as runway, or outside it by not more than 3 m, in the same two parallel rows described for runway edge lights.
Because it stands above grade, it must be frangible and low: low enough to preserve clearance for propellers and engine pods, and designed to break at the coupling rather than damage an aircraft that strikes it. The base, transformer and cable stay below ground, so a damaged fixture can usually be replaced without re-excavating.
Stands above grade beside the runway edge, with a frangible coupling at or just above grade level.
Sits within the pavement surface, so it needs no frangible riser and presents no above-ground obstruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is an elevated runway edge light?
A runway edge light fixture mounted above ground level on a short riser and frangible coupling, standing beside the runway edge. It is the counterpart of an inset fixture, which sits flush within the pavement.
Q2Why must an elevated runway edge light be frangible?
Because it stands above grade, an aircraft could strike it. The fixture is designed to break away at the frangible coupling rather than damage the aircraft, and it must also be low enough to preserve clearance for propellers and engine pods.
Q3How tall is an elevated runway edge light?
Kept deliberately low. In common practice the overall height above grade is around 0.36 m (14 in) or less, but the exact limit depends on the applicable standard and product.
Q4Where is an elevated runway edge light installed?
Along the edges of the area declared for use as runway, or outside it by not more than 3 m, in two parallel rows equidistant from the centreline. Along each row the lights are spaced uniformly, at not more than 60 m on an instrument runway or 100 m on a non-instrument runway.
Q5What colour is an elevated runway edge light?
Normally white. Over the last 600 m of the runway or one-third of its length, whichever is less, the lights show yellow to an aircraft rolling toward that end (landing or taking off), commonly achieved with a bidirectional fixture that shows white one way and yellow the other.
Q6What is below ground at an elevated runway edge light?
A light base (can) set in the ground, normally housing the isolation transformer that connects the fixture to the airfield's series lighting circuit through the primary cable.
See It. Understand It. Then Learn How to Engineer It.
Recognising an AGL system visually is the first step. The next step is knowing how to design, install, test, commission and maintain them correctly.
Build Practical AGL Engineering Skills
Go deeper with structured training from Precision AGL Academy, covering:
Learn how each light, sign and circuit works as part of a complete airport lighting system, not just as an isolated diagram.