THE AGL ENGINEERING CENTRE by Precision AGL Academy · Secondary Power

Emergency Power & Lighting Systems for Airports

How UPS, diesel generators, independent feeders and changeover systems keep runway, taxiway, PAPI and stop-bar lighting available, and how switch-over performance is specified, tested and maintained.

Overview

Emergency Power & Lighting Systems for Airports

Airport lighting cannot be treated like ordinary commercial lighting. Runway edge, threshold and end lights, centreline, touchdown-zone and approach lighting, PAPI, stop bars and essential taxiway lighting may perform safety-critical functions. A power loss has to be managed so the required visual aids are restored within the applicable switch-over time.

In aerodrome engineering the more precise ICAO term is generally secondary power supply. ICAO allows it to come from an independent public power source or standby units such as engine generators and batteries. The goal is not merely lights during a blackout. It is the required continuity, availability, changeover performance and operational integrity of essential visual aids.

A modern airport power architecture may combine

Normal utility powerIndependent feederUPSDiesel generatorAutomatic transfer / changeoverAGL distributionMonitoring
Requirements differ by runway type, operational category and authority. Use the current applicable requirement and the approved aerodrome documentation for any project.
Terminology

Emergency Power vs Secondary Power Supply

Emergency power

A broad engineering term for backup electrical systems used when normal power fails.

Secondary power supply

The aerodrome-specific ICAO concept for supplying facilities that need continued service after failure of the primary supply.

Standby power

Power from a secondary source such as a generator or battery system.

UPS

An uninterruptible power system that holds selected loads without the interruption of a conventional generator start and changeover.

The terms are related but not exact synonyms. The distinction matters when writing airport technical specifications.
Why Backup

Why Airport Lighting Needs Backup Power

Generator only

Utility failure → generator starts → transfer → load restored. This can take several seconds, which can be operationally unacceptable for some visual aids.

UPS bridging to a generator

Utility → online UPS → AGL load, with UPS → DG as the longer-duration path. On utility failure the UPS carries the load at once, the DG starts, becomes available and then supplies the UPS. This gives fast continuity and extended backup.

Current AAI aeronautical information shows this kind of architecture in India. Hyderabad, for example, states that critical AGL circuits are supported by UPS and that a standby DG takes over automatically after the specified UPS backup period if commercial power is not restored.

Interactive

Power Failure Sequence Explorer

Step through a UPS-plus-DG sequence to see how the status changes and what to confirm at each stage.

Status board

    What engineering should confirm

      Illustrative sequence modelled on an ALCMS status display. Real timings, battery autonomy and architecture are project-specific.
      Architecture

      Primary and Secondary Power Architecture

      Representative arrangement. The actual design depends on the airport. The dashed line shows monitoring.

      Normal utility (LV/MV) Independent feeder (option) Main switchgear and ATS / changeover Other essential loads Online UPS + battery DG generator bus CCRs / AGL distribution Primary AGL series circuit Isolating transformer Isolating transformer AGL light AGL light Monitoring / ALCMS

      Sources

      • Utility supply
      • Independent feeder, separate to avoid common-cause failure
      • Diesel generator
      • UPS and battery bank

      Switching and distribution

      • Main switchgear
      • Automatic transfer / changeover
      • AGL power distribution
      • Constant current regulators for series circuits

      Supervision

      • Source, UPS and generator status
      • Alarms
      • AGL availability
      • Common status picture in ALCMS
      Equipment

      UPS, Diesel Generator and the Combined Architecture

      Online UPS

      Normal: utility → rectifier → DC link / battery → inverter → AGL load. On utility failure: battery → inverter → AGL load. The protected output continues without waiting for the generator, which suits very short power-restoration times.

      DG generator

      Supplies longer outages: essential airport loads, AGL, and support to UPS systems. A set includes engine, alternator, fuel system, starting batteries, control panel, protection, exhaust, cooling, fuel tanks and paralleling equipment where needed. Large airports may use several sets for redundancy and load distribution.

      Combined, the UPS is the bridge and the DG is the long-duration source. Current AAI information for Delhi describes multiple DG sets for airfield lighting with UPS-backed AGL, showing how large airports distribute and duplicate their power.

      Utility and generator feed a changeover switch; the UPS carries control and ALCMS.

      STANDBY POWER AND UPS · A SECOND SOURCE AND A BATTERY BRIDGE the changeover moves the load, the UPS carries the controls through the gap PRIMARY SUPPLY utility STANDBY SOURCE engine generator CHANGEOVER moves the load to the standby source CCRs the regulators for the loops SERIES LOOPS UPS battery bridge for the controls CONTROL · ALCMS stays up through the break short break while it changes over 1 2 3 4 5 1 PRIMARY AND STANDBY SOURCES utility supply, plus a generator or other standby source 2 CHANGEOVER moves the load when the primary fails 3 CCRs AND LOOPS the regulators and loops that must stay lit 4 UPS carries control equipment through the gap 5 CONTROL AND ALCMS stay up so the state can be seen and changed TESTED ON LOAD READY WHEN NEEDED Run and transfer tests prove the whole chain NEVER TESTED FAILS WHEN NEEDED Flat batteries, no fuel or a stuck changeover show up in a real outage SCHEMATIC · NOT TO SCALE · FOLLOW ICAO ANNEX 14 VOL. I, THE AUTHORITY AND THE EQUIPMENT MANUALS
      Figure 2. Standby power and UPS block schematic for airfield lighting.
      AGL Visual Encyclopedia: Standby power and UPS CCR power input Power quality monitoring
      Airmen examining the parts of a generator that provides emergency power for airfield lighting
      Photo 1. Airmen look at a generator that provides emergency power for airfield lighting at Travis Air Force Base.Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Chustine Minoda, Travis Air Force Base, Dec. 18, 2020. Public domain (US Government work). Source page
      Switch-Over Time

      ICAO Maximum Switch-Over Times

      Switch-over time is not one value for every light. It depends on runway type and operational category. Annex 14 Table 8-1 sets maximum values by visual aid. The extract below is for precision approach Category II/III.

      Visual aid (Cat II/III)Maximum switch-over time
      Inner 300 m of approach lighting1 second
      Other approach lighting15 seconds
      Runway threshold1 second
      Runway end1 second
      Runway centreline1 second
      Runway touchdown zone1 second
      Stop bars1 second
      Essential taxiway15 seconds
      Abridged. The full table lists further aids and categories, such as runway edge and obstacle lights. For precision approach Category I the cited values for listed aids are 15 seconds. Always check the current Annex 14 table.

      Do not apply one value to every airport

      Requirements depend on runway classification, approach category, take-off RVR requirements, procedures, terrain, lighting configuration and authority requirements. The right question is “what switch-over performance does each protected visual aid need under the applicable category?”

      How switch-over is measured

      Switch-over time is defined by the behaviour of the actual light intensity: the time for measured intensity to fall to 50% and recover to 50% in the relevant direction. Generator start time is not AGL switch-over time, and UPS transfer time is not automatically the same as measured light recovery.

      Where the interruption time goes during a generator changeover.

      CHANGEOVER AND SWITCHOVER TIME · HOW LONG THE LIGHTS ARE INTERRUPTED the switch is the fast part — starting the generator and restarting the regulators take the time 15 s CLASS · GENERATOR ROUTE DETECT 1 GENERATOR START AND RUN-UP longest part of the break 2 TRANSFER 3 CCR RESTART 4 MARGIN keep it — do not spend it 5 LIGHTS INTERRUPTED · THIS IS THE SWITCHOVER TIME t = 0 15 s LIMIT mains fails 1 s CLASS · NEEDS A NO-BREAK ARRANGEMENT 1 s LIMIT A GENERATOR CANNOT START IN 1 s — THE LOAD MUST BE CARRIED BY A SOURCE ALREADY RUNNING second independent feed with fast transfer · no-break power system · as the design and the authority require 1 DETECT the loss or poor quality of the supply is sensed, usually with a short deliberate delay 2 GENERATOR START AND RUN-UP cranks, starts and reaches rated voltage and frequency — usually the longest part 3 TRANSFER the changeover switch moves the load to the generator 4 CCR RESTART the regulators re-establish the series-circuit current and the lights come back 5 MARGIN what is left under the limit — absorbs a slow start or an ageing switch TIMED ON TEST WITHIN THE LIMIT, PROVEN A recorded interruption on load shows the whole chain meets its class NEVER TIMED DARK LONGER THAN ALLOWED A slow start or a sticky switch is found only in a real outage SCHEMATIC · NOT TO SCALE · FOLLOW ICAO ANNEX 14 VOL. I, THE AUTHORITY AND THE EQUIPMENT MANUALS
      Figure 1. Generator changeover timeline: detect the failure, start and run up the generator, transfer the load, and let the regulators recover. Check the current Annex 14 table for required values.
      AGL Visual Encyclopedia: Generator changeover and switch-over time Standby power and UPS Mode changeover
      India

      Indian Practice and Real Configurations

      Airport / sourceConfiguration describedNote
      HyderabadUPS-supported critical AGL circuits with seamless transfer, 30-minute UPS backup, then automatic DG takeover if commercial power is not restored.The 30-minute figure is airport-specific.
      DelhiMultiple DG sets for airfield lighting with UPS-backed AGL arrangements and generator redundancy.Shows a distributed, redundant design.
      CochinLow-visibility procedures require standby power and describe critical lighting on fast-changeover arrangements.Tied to LVP status.
      Other AAI airportsUPS-supported critical AGL with transfer under one second at some CAT I/II installations. DG arrangements with about 15 seconds at others.AAI publications regularly cite DGCA CAR Section 4 Series B Part I.

      There is no single emergency-power architecture for every Indian airport. Switch-over time and battery autonomy are separate parameters. Thirty minutes of UPS backup appears in some Indian configurations but is not a universal ICAO requirement.

      Airport details were not individually re-checked against the current eAIP editions. Confirm in the current AIRAC data.
      Visual Aids

      Backup Power for Each Lighting System

      Runway lighting

      Often split into critical and less-critical loads. Critical: edge, threshold, end, centreline, touchdown zone and selected approach lighting. Loss of one source must not cause unacceptable loss of visual guidance.

      Taxiway lighting

      Not all taxiway lighting has the same requirement. ICAO separates essential taxiway functions. Classify each circuit by operational importance rather than putting the whole network on one backup arrangement.

      PAPI

      Visual approach slope indicators fall within the secondary-power framework. Include PAPI in the visual-aid power analysis and do not treat it automatically as critical or non-critical.

      Stop bars

      Safety-critical control lights at runway holding positions. For Category II/III the cited maximum is one second, so they need a very reliable and fast power and control architecture.

      ALCMS

      If the lights stay on but control loses power, remote switching, brightness control, monitoring, alarms, stop-bar control, route guidance and Follow the Greens are lost. Study power to the light and power to the control system.

      A-SMGCS and Follow the Greens

      Depend on surveillance, processing, networks, ALCMS and field controllers. Decide which equipment is UPS-protected, how stop bars and green routes behave in a power failure, what ATC sees and what the pilot sees. Validate in integrated commissioning.

      Backup power depends on the lighting system, not the whole network.

      RUNWAY LIGHTINGSplit critical andless-critical loadsLoss of one source must notlose visual guidanceTAXIWAY LIGHTINGClassify each circuit byoperational importanceICAO separates essentialtaxiway functionsPAPIWithin the secondary-powerframeworkInclude in the visual-aidpower analysisSTOP BARSSafety-critical control lightsCat II/III maximum: 1 secondNeeds fast, reliable powerand controlALCMSLights on but control deadloses remote switchingStudy power to the lightand to the control systemA-SMGCS, FOLLOW THE GREENSDepends on surveillance,network, ALCMS, controllersDefine UPS cover andfailure behaviourClassify each circuit by operational importance, not the whole network at once.
      Figure 3. Backup-power considerations by lighting system. Confirm each requirement against the current standard and the airport authority.
      AGL Visual Encyclopedia: PAPI power supply Stop bar monitoring ALCMS failure flow
      Scope

      Emergency Lighting vs AGL Secondary Power

      AGL emergency / secondary power

      Keeps aerodrome visual aids such as runway and taxiway lighting.

      Terminal emergency lighting

      Escape routes, stairs, corridors, critical spaces, fire-safety systems and exits. Governed mainly by building, fire, electrical and life-safety requirements, not AGL provisions.

      Evacuation, apron and ATC lighting

      Evacuation routes, operational or emergency-response apron areas and essential controller illumination where required.

      Fire and rescue

      ICAO lists essential equipment and facilities for aerodrome emergency-response agencies among loads that can need secondary power: fire station systems, emergency communications, access lighting, selected alarms. The list is airport-specific.

      Engineer these as separate but coordinated systems.
      A technician repairing a generator for an emergency airfield lighting system
      Photo 2. A technician fixes a generator for an emergency airfield lighting system (EALS) at Jalalabad Airfield. Emergency airfield lighting is a separate system from AGL secondary power.Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Justyn M. Freeman, Jalalabad Airfield, July 1, 2016. Public domain (US Government work). Source page
      Load Management

      Load Classification and Load Schedule

      Critical

      Needs very fast continuity. Typically UPS-backed, such as critical AGL.

      Essential

      Tolerates a longer changeover within the applicable requirement. Typically DG-backed.

      Non-essential

      Can be shed during an emergency.

      Example load schedule structure

      LoadNormal sourceBackup sourceObjective
      Runway critical lightingUtilityUPS + DGFast continuity
      Approach lightingUtilityUPS / DG as requiredApplicable changeover
      PAPIAGL / utilitySecondary supply as requiredMaintain visual guidance
      Stop barsAGL / utilityFast backupProtect runway holding
      Essential taxiwayUtilityDG / UPS as requiredRequired continuity
      ALCMSUtilityUPSMaintain control and monitoring
      A-SMGCSUtilityUPSMaintain surveillance and control
      ATC essential equipmentUtilityDedicated backupOperational continuity
      Fire / emergency systemsUtilityEmergency sourceEmergency availability
      Apron lightingUtilityDG as requiredOperational support
      Illustrative. The final load schedule must follow the project electrical design.
      Sizing

      Generator, UPS and Battery Sizing

      Generator sizing considerations

      Do not size by adding nameplate wattages.

      • Actual connected load and demand factor
      • Motor starting current
      • UPS input characteristics and harmonics
      • CCR characteristics and non-linear loads
      • Simultaneous operation and future expansion
      • Redundancy, derating, altitude, temperature
      • Fuel strategy

      UPS sizing considerations

      Size for the actual protected AGL load and required autonomy, not an arbitrary percentage.

      • Load kW and kVA, power factor, efficiency
      • Autonomy and battery ageing
      • Temperature and future load growth
      • Redundancy, recharge time, fault current
      • Bypass arrangements

      Online vs offline UPS

      An online UPS supplies the load continuously through the inverter: no conventional transfer delay, power conditioning and a stable output. An offline or standby UPS switches to the inverter after detecting failure, which introduces a transfer event. Choose from the required switch-over performance and the project specification.

      Battery technology

      VRLA, flooded lead-acid, lithium-ion or other approved types. Consider autonomy, temperature, fire protection, ventilation, maintenance, life cycle, replacement, monitoring and environment. Base selection on the manufacturer’s certified system design and airport electrical requirements.

      Redundancy

      Independent Supply, Feeders and Generator Redundancy

      Independent public power

      ICAO allows an independent public power source as the secondary supply, provided it is sufficiently independent and simultaneous failure is extremely remote. Feasibility depends on the airport’s utility infrastructure.

      Genuine feeder independence

      Two cables leaving one vulnerable point are not independent. Consider separate routes, switchgear, protection and substations, common-cause failure, fire separation and physical separation.

      Generator redundancy

      N, N+1, dual-source, geographically separated or dedicated runway-area generators, so one failure does not take out the protected lighting. Set the level from the airport’s reliability and operational design.

      Common-cause check

      Supposedly redundant systems may share switchgear, a cable route, control power, a fuel system or cooling. True redundancy covers the whole chain.

      Two feeders and a normally open bus tie.

      TWO FEEDERS · TWO BUS SECTIONS · ONE NORMALLY OPEN TIE 1 · BOTH FEEDERS HEALTHY TIE OPEN · EACH BUS ON ITS OWN FEEDER FEED A FEED B TIE CCR A CCR B 2 · FEEDER A LOST TIE CLOSED · B CARRIES BOTH BUSES FEED ALOST FEED B TIE CCR A CCR B 3 · BOTH FEEDERS LOST GENERATOR CARRIES BOTH BUSES FEED ALOST FEED BLOST TIE CCR A CCR B GEN WHAT TO CHECK 1 INDEPENDENT FEEDERS different source, different route 2 FULL-LOAD RATING each feeder able to carry it all 3 INTERLOCKED TIE no unplanned paralleling of sources 4 SHARED WEAK POINTS control supply, trench, upstream SCHEMATIC · ONE LINE PER FEEDER · NOT A DESIGN
      Figure 4. Dual feeders: if feeder A is lost its breaker opens, the tie closes and feeder B carries both buses.
      AGL Visual Encyclopedia: Dual feeders Standby CCR changeover Single point of failure analysis
      Monitoring

      Power Monitoring and ALCMS Status

      Backup power only helps if the airport knows it is available. Monitor utility (voltage, frequency, breakers), UPS (mode, battery state, inverter, bypass, alarms, battery health), DG (running status, fuel, oil pressure, coolant, battery, breaker, load, faults) and AGL (CCR and circuit status, alarms, serviceability). An integrated ALCMS can show one common status picture and flag a problem before a lighting outage.

      StateNormal powerUPSDG-1AGL critical
      NormalAvailableHealthyStandbyAvailable
      Utility failedFailedOn batteryStartingAvailable
      DG stabilizedFailedSupplied by DGRunningAvailable

      Related Guides

      ALCMS
      Testing

      Testing, Switch-Over Measurement and Commissioning

      Regular tests

      • Utility failure simulation
      • UPS transfer
      • DG auto-start and load test
      • Automatic changeover
      • Return to normal
      • Battery autonomy
      • AGL functional test
      • ALCMS alarms and source status
      • Integrated: utility failure → UPS → DG → AGL → control → monitoring

      Verify, do not assume

      Do not take switch-over time from a generator specification. Verify actual AGL performance with the applicable test method, because final behaviour depends on the complete electrical and lighting system.

      Commissioning sequence

      01

      Document review

      Single-line diagrams, load schedules and backup-power philosophy.

      02

      Equipment inspection

      UPS, batteries, DG, switchgear, ATS and distribution.

      03

      Electrical testing

      Insulation, protection and connections.

      04

      UPS testing

      Normal, battery and bypass modes.

      05

      DG testing

      Auto-start, synchronization where applicable, loading and shutdown.

      06

      Transfer testing

      Simulate loss of the normal source.

      07

      AGL testing

      Verify critical lighting stays operational.

      08

      Switch-over measurement

      Measure actual performance.

      09

      ALCMS integration

      Verify source and equipment alarms.

      10

      Failure scenarios

      Test defined abnormal conditions.

      11

      Restore normal supply

      Verify safe return to utility.

      12

      Documentation

      Record results and set the commissioning baseline.

      Electrical continuity alone does not prove the lighting is still compliant. Follow the power test with a functional test and a photometric test: runway edge, centreline, threshold and end lights, stop bars and PAPI output.

      Test the chain end to end, then measure at the light.

      UTILITYSimulatefailureUPSNormal, battery,bypass modesDGAuto-start,load testAGLCritical lightingstays onCONTROLALCMS sourcestatusMONITORINGAlarms andrecordsMEASURE AT THE LIGHTSwitch-over time = intensity falls to 50% and recovers to 50%.Generator start time and UPS transfer time are not AGL switch-over time.Do not take it from a generator specification.After the power test: functional test, then photometric test.Electrical continuity alone does not prove the lighting is compliant.
      Figure 5. Integrated test chain: utility failure, UPS, DG, AGL, control and monitoring. Switch-over is judged by measured light intensity.
      AGL Visual Encyclopedia: Generator changeover and switch-over time Testing requirement flow Test documentation
      An electrical systems craftsman activating airfield lights at an air base
      Photo 3. An electrical systems craftsman activates airfield lights at Shaw Air Force Base. A functional test of the lights follows every power test.Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jensen Stidham, Shaw Air Force Base, July 16, 2014. Public domain (US Government work). Source page
      Low Visibility

      Backup Power and Low-Visibility Procedures

      At airports operating LVP, backup power becomes an operational readiness item, not only an electrical-maintenance matter. AAI information describes engineering staff verifying secondary-power availability before or during LVP and monitoring AGL status, with inspections shortly before LVP and at set intervals while it remains in force.

      Possible sequence during a power failure

      Normal power fails

      UPS takes load

      AGL stays available

      DG starts and supplies

      Engineering confirms status

      ATC acts per LVP

      If backup is unavailable, the approved LVP procedure may require restrictions or suspension of affected operations. AAI publications document such decisions where UPS or DG unserviceability affects LVP status.
      Failure Modes

      Common Emergency Power Failures

      Click a failure to see what to investigate.

      UPS battery failure

      The UPS may work electrically but lack autonomy:

      • Battery ageing
      • Capacity not tested
      • Temperature effects

      DG starting failure

      The generator does not start when needed:

      • Weak starting battery
      • Fuel problem
      • Starter or control fault
      • Insufficient maintenance

      ATS failure

      The generator runs but the critical load does not transfer:

      • Transfer device fault
      • Control logic or interlock
      • Return-to-normal failure

      Overload

      The generator or UPS trips when all loads energize:

      • Poor load segregation
      • Inrush or starting current
      • Undersized source

      Poor power quality

      Sensitive equipment is affected:

      • Voltage or frequency deviation
      • Harmonics
      • Generator–UPS interaction

      Incorrect load segregation

      A backup-protected circuit holds loads that should be on another source:

      • Wrong bus allocation
      • Undocumented changes
      • Load schedule not kept current

      Control system failure

      Power is available but ALCMS or field controls do not operate:

      • Server or network not on UPS
      • Field controller unprotected
      • Alarms lost

      Common-cause failure

      Two redundant systems fail together:

      • Shared switchgear or cable route
      • Shared control power
      • Shared fuel or cooling
      Maintenance

      Maintenance Programme

      Daily / operational

      • Source status
      • UPS alarms
      • Generator availability
      • Fuel level
      • Control-panel status

      Weekly / periodic

      • Generator auto-start
      • Battery condition and charger
      • ATS operation
      • UPS status

      Monthly

      • Generator load test
      • Battery inspection
      • Transfer-system inspection
      • Alarm verification

      Detailed periodic

      • UPS battery capacity
      • Generator engine service
      • Protection-system testing
      • Cable inspection and switchgear
      • Thermal inspection and earthing
      • AGL circuit performance
      Set the exact frequencies through the airport’s approved maintenance programme and the manufacturers’ requirements.
      An airman performing a 400-hour preventive maintenance inspection on a generator
      Photo 4. An airman performs a 400-hour preventive maintenance inspection on a generator at Nigerien Air Base 201. Generators need regular maintenance and load testing.Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alex Fox Echols III, Nigerien Air Base 201, Feb. 11, 2020. Public domain (US Government work). Source page
      Wider Systems

      Renewables, Microgrids and Control-Room Power

      Renewables and storage

      Solar PV, battery storage, microgrids and smart energy management can improve resilience. But renewable generation does not automatically make a supply suitable as a safety-critical secondary source. Critical AGL needs availability, stability, switch-over performance, fault behaviour and approved operating requirements, with a dedicated secondary-power strategy.

      Control rooms and field controls

      ATC, ALCMS, A-SMGCS, communications and surveillance should be considered together. Keeping the light but losing control or monitoring is a problem, and so is the reverse. Protect the ALCMS server, workstation, field controllers, network, CCR interfaces and PLC/RTU, and plan functional continuity, not only equipment continuity.

      CCRs and isolating transformers

      Test the whole path: backup source → CCR → primary circuit → transformer → light. Do not test each block alone and assume the result. Judge the light itself, not only the CCR output reading.

      Full chain

      Power source → switchgear → UPS / DG → CCR → primary cable → isolating transformer → connector → AGL light. A defect anywhere affects the final visual aid.

      Safety

      Working Safely on Emergency Power Systems

      Hazards include high voltage, electrical isolation, generator backfeed, UPS stored energy, batteries, fuel, rotating equipment, airside vehicle movements, runway and taxiway access, live circuits, lockout/tagout and permit systems. Do generator and UPS maintenance only under appropriate electrical safety procedures.

      High voltageGenerator backfeedUPS stored energyBattery hazardsFuelRotating equipmentAirside accessLockout / tagoutPermit to work
      Standards

      Standards and Design Baseline for India

      ICAO

      Annex 14 Volume I is the core international reference. The ICAO Store lists the 9th Edition, July 2022, including Amendment 18. Its secondary-power provisions allow an independent public source or standby units and set category-dependent switch-over times. ICAO guidance also says power, lighting and control for very low RVR operations must be designed so that an equipment failure does not leave the pilot with inadequate or misleading visual guidance.

      For an Indian project, base the design on

      Check the DGCA and project requirements against the current regulatory framework, not an international table alone.

      • DGCA CAR, including Section 4 Series B Part I
      • AAI requirements
      • Aerodrome operating procedures
      • Project specifications
      • Current ICAO provisions as applicable
      Annex 14 edition and amendment match what was checked for the ICAO aerodrome lighting page. The Table 8-1 cells beyond the one-second entries for the inner 300 m of approach lighting and all stop bars could not be confirmed from the sources reached, so verify the full table in the current Annex 14.
      Projects

      New Airports, Upgrades and Gap Assessment

      New airports

      Set the power philosophy before finalizing AGL circuit design: operational category → visual-aid requirement → critical / essential load classification → power architecture → UPS / DG sizing → AGL circuit design → ALCMS integration → switch-over testing → photometry → commissioning. This avoids costly redesign after circuits are installed.

      Existing airports

      Start with an audit of utility feeds, DG and UPS capacity, battery age, CCR configuration, circuit segmentation, switchgear, ATS, cable routes, ALCMS, actual measured changeover time and current operating category. Find the gap between existing and required capability.

      AreaExisting conditionRequired conditionGap
      Utility and DGExisting capacityRequired capacity—
      UPS and batteryExisting capacity and autonomyRequired protected load and autonomy—
      ATS and CCRExistingRequired transfer and configuration—
      AGL and ALCMSExisting circuits and monitoringRequired critical circuits and monitoring—
      TestingExisting recordsRequired evidence—
      Useful for CAT I to CAT II/III upgrades, runway rehabilitation, expansion, LED conversion, AGL modernization and LVP implementation.

      Service scope

      AGL power assessmentEmergency power designAGL UPS engineeringDG integrationAGL circuit backupALCMS integrationA-SMGCS / Follow the Greens continuityTesting and commissioningMaintenance

      New airports set the philosophy first; existing airports find the gap.

      NEW AIRPORTS: SET THE POWER PHILOSOPHY BEFORE CIRCUIT DESIGN1 Operationalcategory2 Visual-aidrequirement3 Critical/ essential loads4 Powerarchitecture5 UPSand DG sizing6 AGLcircuit design7 ALCMSintegration8 Switch-overtesting9 Photometry,commissioningEXISTING AIRPORTS: AUDIT, THEN FIND THE GAP BETWEEN EXISTING AND REQUIREDUtilityand DGUPS, batteryand autonomyATSand CCRAGL, ALCMSand monitoringTestingrecordsGAPRequired - existingUseful for CAT I to CAT II/III upgrades, runway rehabilitation,expansion, LED conversion, AGL modernizationand LVP implementation.
      Figure 6. Power philosophy for new airports, and gap assessment for existing airports.
      Checklists

      Emergency Power Acceptance Checklist

      Click an item to mark it complete.

      Sources and UPS

      Normal utility available
      Independent source available where specified
      DG available and fuel present
      Batteries healthy
      UPS capacity correct and bypass tested
      UPS alarms operational
      0 / 6 complete

      Generator and changeover

      DG auto-start tested
      Load test completed
      Protection, fuel and cooling checked
      Automatic transfer tested
      Return-to-normal tested
      Actual switch-over measured
      0 / 6 complete

      AGL, control and documents

      Critical circuits available
      CCR operation verified
      Runway, taxiway, stop bars and PAPI verified
      ALCMS powered with alarms visible
      Test reports and as-builts completed
      Load schedule and maintenance procedures documented
      0 / 6 complete
      Final Engineering Perspective

      Airport emergency power is not a diesel generator project. It is a resilience chain from utility to light to monitoring, judged by the visual guidance the pilot receives within the applicable switch-over time.

      Classify. Back up. Measure. Verify.

      Test Yourself

      Quick Knowledge Check

      Q1. Which term does ICAO generally use for aerodrome backup power?

      A. Standby lighting
      B. Secondary power supply
      C. Auxiliary UPS
      D. Reserve feeder

      Q2. Does generator start time equal AGL switch-over time?

      A. Yes
      B. No, switch-over is judged from measured light intensity through the transition
      C. Only for LED lights
      D. Only with a UPS

      Q3. What is the role of the UPS in a UPS + DG architecture?

      A. Long-duration source
      B. Bridge that carries the load while the DG starts
      C. It replaces the CCR
      D. It measures intensity

      Q4. Is 30 minutes of UPS autonomy an ICAO requirement?

      A. Yes, for all airports
      B. No, it is an airport-specific design value in some Indian configurations
      C. Only for CAT I
      D. Only for taxiways

      Q5. Why include ALCMS in the backup-power study?

      A. Lights can stay on while control, monitoring and stop-bar functions are lost
      B. ALCMS supplies the generator
      C. It sets the lamp type
      D. It is not needed
      Explore More

      Explore More AGL Engineering

      POWER

      Emergency & Backup Power

      Secondary power for AGL.

      Open Emergency & Backup Power →
      ELECTRICAL

      CCR Working Principle

      Constant current regulators and series circuits.

      Open CCR Working Principle →
      COMPONENTS

      Airport Isolating Transformer

      The transformer between circuit and light.

      Open Airport Isolating Transformer →
      CONTROL

      ALCMS

      Airfield lighting control and monitoring.

      Open ALCMS →
      GUIDANCE

      Follow the Greens Concept

      Green centreline route guidance.

      Open Follow the Greens Concept →
      SAFETY

      A-SMGCS India

      Surface movement guidance and control.

      Open A-SMGCS India →
      VISUAL GUIDANCE

      PAPI Engineering Guide

      Precision approach path indicators.

      Open PAPI Engineering Guide →
      TESTING

      Testing & Commissioning Guide

      Test and commission AGL systems.

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      MAINTENANCE

      AGL Preventive Maintenance Guide

      Maintenance cycles and checks.

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      FUNDAMENTALS

      How Airfield Lighting Works

      The full AGL system explained.

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      STANDARDS

      ICAO Aerodrome Lighting Requirements

      Framework and requirements.

      Open ICAO Aerodrome Lighting Requirements →
      COMPONENTS

      AGL Components

      Components of an AGL system.

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      INDIA

      AGL Photometry India

      In-field photometric testing for Indian airports.

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      INDIA

      PAPI India

      PAPI installation, aiming, testing and maintenance.

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      INDIA

      AGL Consultant India

      AGL design, specification and technical review.

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      INDIA

      AGL Contractor India

      AGL installation, testing and commissioning.

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      INDIA

      Airport Lighting Companies India

      Company types across the Indian AGL market.

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      Keep the Lights On. Prove It.

      From UPS and DG integration to switch-over measurement and photometry, explore the complete AGL knowledge base.

      Keyword Reference

      AGL Circuit Design for Emergency Power

      AGL circuit design

      AGL circuit design for emergency power decides which series circuits and loads are fed from the backup source, how the CCRs are supplied and how switch-over is handled. It starts from the operational category and the required switch-over time, then sizes the UPS and generator and plans the ALCMS interface. See the load classification and sizing sections of this page.

      AGL Engineering Hub

      Explore the AGL Engineering Knowledge Hub

      Fundamentals

      Standards & Compliance

      Runway, Taxiway & Approach Lighting

      Surface Movement & Safety

      PAPI

      Electrical Engineering & Power

      Photometry & Testing

      Maintenance, Inspection & Safety

      Resources, Documentation & Careers

      FAQ

      Emergency Power & Lighting FAQ

      Q1What is emergency power in an airport?

      Backup electrical infrastructure used to maintain critical airport facilities when the normal source fails. For aerodrome visual aids ICAO commonly calls it a secondary power supply.

      Q2What is the difference between UPS and a diesel generator?

      A UPS gives rapid or uninterrupted power to protected loads. A diesel generator gives longer-duration standby power. They are often used together.

      Q3Why is UPS used for runway lighting?

      A UPS can hold the protected AGL load through the transition caused by failure of the normal source, helping the lighting meet the applicable switch-over requirement.

      Q4Does every airport need the same backup-power system?

      No. The architecture depends on runway category, operational conditions, visual aids, airport configuration and applicable regulations and specifications.

      Q5What is the required AGL switch-over time?

      There is no single value. ICAO Table 8-1 gives category- and visual-aid-specific maximums. For example it gives one second for the inner 300 m of approach lighting and for all stop bars in precision approach Category II/III.

      Q6Is 30 minutes of UPS backup required by ICAO?

      No. Thirty minutes appears in some Indian airport configurations, such as Hyderabad, but it is an airport-specific implementation detail.

      Q7Can an independent utility feeder be used instead of a generator?

      Yes. ICAO allows an independent public power source as a secondary supply when it meets the required independence conditions.

      Q8Does generator start time equal AGL switch-over time?

      No. Switch-over is evaluated at lighting-system level, from the measured light intensity response through the power transition.

      Q9Does PAPI need emergency power?

      It may, depending on runway category and applicable requirements. Include it in the airport’s visual-aid power analysis.

      Q10Does emergency power need to supply ALCMS?

      Include the control and monitoring system in the continuity analysis wherever its loss would affect the required operation of critical AGL or safety-related guidance functions.

      Q11What happens if UPS fails during low visibility?

      The airport’s approved LVP procedure decides the response. AAI information shows examples where UPS or DG unserviceability can lead to restrictions or suspension of affected low-visibility operations.

      Field Insight

      Engineering & Expert Notes

      Separate Emergency Lighting From Secondary Power
      Concepts

      These serve different purposes. Be clear which requirement a specific design is meeting.

      Verify Switch-Over Times by Test
      Switch-Over

      Measure the actual interruption on the equipment, not just the specification of the source.

      Check Which Loads Are on Which Source
      Load Schedule

      Keep the schedule accurate. Loads added over time may end up on the wrong supply.

      Test Generators Under Realistic Load
      Generators

      A no-load run does not show how the system behaves with the full airfield load.

      Confirm Monitoring Shows Source Status
      Monitoring

      Operators should see clearly which source is feeding the airfield and any alarms.

      Record Tests and Findings
      Records

      Dated logs of tests and defects support both safety and compliance.

      Precision AGL Academy

      Understand AGL. Build Your Engineering Skills.

      You now understand how emergency power, UPS and generators keep airfield ground lighting available.

      Take the next step with Precision AGL Academy.

      Learn AGL Step by Step

      Build your knowledge through structured technical learning covering:

      AGL Fundamentals Components Electrical Systems Design Photometry Testing Troubleshooting Maintenance

      Move from understanding how AGL works to developing the practical knowledge needed to analyse, operate and maintain complete AGL systems.

      Understand the system. Build the knowledge. Apply the engineering.