Foundations
Physics, design and the complete picture of an AGL system.
All About Airfield Ground Lighting
How approach, runway, taxiway and apron lighting, CCRs, control and standards fit together.
Read the guideThe Physics of AGL
Resistance, reactance, impedance and CCR regulation, explained from Ohm's law upward.
Read the guideAGL Design & Electrical Engineering
Series circuits, CCR sizing, cables, voltage drop, earthing, drawings and BOQ.
Read the guideStandards & Compliance
What ICAO, the FAA and EASA require, and how it becomes compliant engineering.
ICAO Annex 14 AGL Requirements
SARPs, Amendment 18 and the compliance chain from photometry to documentation.
Read the guideFAA AC 150/5340 Series Explained
Markings, signs, maintenance and installation, and how they relate to AC 150/5345.
Read the guideEASA CS-ADR-DSN & AGL Compliance
Issue 7, Chapters M, Q and S, with an 8-level compliance model.
Read the guideLighting Systems
Every lighting system on and around the airfield.
Runway Lighting Systems
Edge, centreline, threshold and touchdown zone lighting and the circuits behind them.
Read the guideApproach Lighting Systems
Centreline, crossbars and sequenced flashers: structures, control and alignment.
Read the guideTaxiway Lighting Systems
Edge and centreline lighting, lead-on/lead-off guidance, control and maintenance.
Read the guidePAPI Engineering Guide
Siting, approach geometry, optical alignment, foundations and commissioning.
Read the guideApron Lighting & Stand Guidance Systems
Floodlighting, glare, uniformity, stand guidance and VDGS.
Read the guideObstruction Lighting & Marking
Obstacle assessment, marking patterns, low-, medium- and high-intensity lights.
Read the guideSurface Guidance & Runway Safety
Stop bars, guard lights, signs, markings and SMGCS as one visual language.
Runway Guard Lights & Stop Bars
Configuration, colour, control, interlocking and ALCMS integration.
Read the guideRunway Incursion Prevention & SMGCS
The layered prevention model, A-SMGCS and fail-safe design.
Read the guideAirfield Signage & Taxiway Guidance Signs
Sign categories, message and colour, illumination and the series-circuit interface.
Read the guideAirfield Markings & Signage Integration
How pavement markings, signs and lighting work together on the surface.
Read the guidePower, Control & Protection
The equipment behind the light.
Constant Current Regulators Deep Dive
Operating principle, technologies, brightness steps, faults and testing.
Read the guideThe Guide to AGL Isolating Transformers
Function, ratings, selection, connectors, faults and testing.
Read the guideAGL Cables & Connector Engineering
Series-circuit cables and connectors: selection, sizing, voltage drop, field joints.
Read the guideALCMS: Airfield Lighting Control & Monitoring System
Architecture, HMI, CCR interface, monitoring and integration.
Read the guideEmergency Backup Power in AGL
UPS and generator integration, ATS transfer, sizing and testing.
Read the guideAGL Surge Protection & Lightning Mitigation
Lightning, transient overvoltage, bonding, grounding and surge protection.
Read the guideInstallation, Testing & Operations
Build it, prove it, measure it, report it.
AGL Installation & Commissioning
Receiving, inspection, cable and trench work through to commissioning.
Read the guideAGL Testing & Inspection
Electrical, mechanical, optical and operational verification.
Read the guideAGL Photometry
Measuring intensity, distribution, colour and alignment.
Read the guideNOTAMs: Notice to Airmen
What NOTAMs are, why they matter for AGL and how AGL faults are reported.
Read the guideFixture & Power Technologies
Fixed, portable and solar lighting for every kind of operation.
LED Airfield Ground Lighting
Driver design, thermal management, photometry, certification and failure modes.
Read the guidePortable Airfield Lighting (PAGL)
Power, control, anchoring, deployment and fault-finding for portable kits.
Read the guideSolar Airfield Lighting (SAGL)
PV-battery-LED design, energy sizing, autonomy and protection.
Read the guideComponents & How It Works
What the system is made of and how each part does its job.
How Does Airfield Lighting Work?
The CCR, series circuit, isolating transformers, lights, signs and ALCMS working together, from brightness steps to operation.
Read the guideAirfield Ground Lighting Components
A complete component guide: CCRs, transformers, cables, connectors, light fittings, PAPI, signs, light bases and monitoring.
Read the guideCCR Working Principle
How a constant current regulator drives the series circuit: current steps, wiring, remote control, fault indications and commissioning.
Read the guideAirport Isolating Transformer
6.6 A and 20 A applications, ratings, wattage selection, 5 kV insulation, testing, installation and failures.
Read the guideJunction Box & Transformer Housing
L-867 and L-868 bases, installation depths, cable entry, drainage, connectors, frangibility and maintenance.
Read the guideAirport Approach Lighting Systems (ALS)
CAT I, II and III configurations, flashers, towers, frangible structures, wiring, aiming, installation and testing.
Read the guidePAPI Field Guides
Six practical guides on PAPI from principle to maintenance.
How Does PAPI Work?
What the white and red indications mean, approach slope, threshold crossing height, MEHT and APAPI.
Read the guideICAO PAPI Requirements & Compliance
Siting, spacing, aiming, photometry, inspection, documentation and ICAO versus FAA differences.
Read the guidePAPI Installation & Aiming Handbook
4-unit and 2-unit systems, aiming angles, siting, electrical supply, photometry and commissioning.
Read the guidePAPI Calibration & Aiming Procedure
Vertical angle, horizontal alignment, unit geometry, calibration equipment and recalibration.
Read the guidePAPI Alignment, Testing & Maintenance
Site survey, foundations, spacing, aiming, electrical installation, records and troubleshooting.
Read the guidePAPI Maintenance Checklist
Unit, lens, alignment, electrical and photometry checks, with troubleshooting and retesting.
Read the guidePhotometry, Testing & Maintenance
Test procedures, photometric measurement and maintenance schedules.
AGL Photometric Testing Guide
Equipment, runway, taxiway and PAPI measurement, a 10-step procedure, troubleshooting and reporting.
Read the guideAGL Photometric Testing Procedure
Setup, measurement of intensity, colour and alignment, acceptance, reporting, rectification and retesting.
Read the guideRunway Lighting Photometry
Intensity, coverage, colour and alignment of edge, threshold, centreline, touchdown zone and approach lights.
Read the guideTaxiway Lighting Photometry
Intensity and optical checks for taxiway edge, centreline, stop bar and runway guard lights.
Read the guideAirfield Lighting Testing & Commissioning
Cable and insulation testing, CCR, transformers, circuits, photometry, PAPI, signs, controls and documentation.
Read the guideAGL Preventive Maintenance Guide
Preventive, corrective and periodic maintenance, inspection schedules, photometry and troubleshooting.
Read the guideAirport Lighting Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance checklist for runway, taxiway, approach, PAPI, CCRs and cables, with defect classes and records.
Read the guidePower Reliability & Sustainability
Redundancy, backup power, surge protection and energy-efficient design.
Redundancy in AGL Electrical Architecture
Dual circuits, independent feeders, UPS and DG backup, fault tolerance and CAT II/III operations.
Read the guideEmergency Power & Lighting Systems
UPS, DG generators, secondary power, CCR backup, stop bars, PAPI, testing and commissioning.
Read the guideLightning & Surge Protection for AGL Circuits
Counterpoise, bonding, SPDs, protecting CCRs, transformers, PAPI and ALCMS, with testing.
Read the guideSustainability in Airfield Ground Lighting
LED AGL, energy efficiency, smart control, renewable power, lifecycle cost and carbon reduction.
Read the guideStandards & Surface Movement
ICAO lighting requirements and advanced surface movement guidance.
ICAO Aerodrome Lighting Requirements
Runway, taxiway and approach lighting, PAPI, stop bars, guard lights, colours, photometry and compliance.
Read the guideA-SMGCS: Advanced Surface Movement Guidance
Surveillance, routing and guidance with multilateration, ADS-B, ALCMS, stop bars and Follow the Greens.
Read the guideFollow the Greens Concept
Green centreline routing, red stop bars, ALCMS control and low-visibility operations.
Read the guideField Operations, Safety & Response
Inspection, safety, failure diagnosis and outage response on live airfields.
How to Inspect & Replace Airfield Lights
Site inspection of inset runway and taxiway lights, fixture replacement, night inspections and verification.
Read the guideAGL Inspection & Audit Checklists
Design review, commissioning, maintenance and handover checklists for CCRs, transformers, cables and circuits.
Read the guideAGL Maintenance Work Safety Guide
Electrical isolation, lockout-tagout, permits, PPE, night work, cable excavation and movement-area safety.
Read the guideWhy Airfield Lights Fail: Causes & Fixes
Light outages, flickering, water ingress, damaged inset lights, transformer faults and CCR problems.
Read the guideAGL Outage Response & Runway Closure
Outage risk assessment, operational checks, maintenance coordination and runway closure procedures.
Read the guideReference, Diagrams & Documentation
Colour codes, schematics, datasheets and project paperwork in one place.
AGL Colour Codes
Runway, taxiway, threshold, centreline and approach light colours under ICAO and FAA requirements.
Read the guideAGL Diagrams & Schematics
Series circuits, CCR wiring, isolating transformers, runway lighting and ALCMS schematics explained.
Read the guideAGL Datasheets & PDF Guides
Technical datasheets, product catalogues, checklists and PDF guides for CCRs, transformers, cables and lights.
Read the guideAGL Project Documentation Guide
Specifications, BOQs, inspection test plans, quality records, as-built drawings, snag lists and O&M manuals.
Read the guideAGL Advantages & Disadvantages
Strengths and limits of series circuits, CCRs, transformers, runway lights and ALCMS, compared by system type.
Read the guideApron, LED & Careers
Apron floodlighting, stand guidance, LED benefits and the AGL engineer role.
Apron Floodlighting Design: Lux Levels & Layout
Illumination levels, LED floodlights, pole layouts, glare control, photometric calculations and maintenance.
Read the guideVDGS: Visual Docking Guidance System
Aircraft docking guidance, stand lead-in, system components, installation and maintenance.
Read the guideLED Airfield Lighting Benefits & Lifespan
Energy savings, fixture lifespan, thermal management, maintenance needs and retrofit considerations.
Read the guideAGL Engineer Job Description & Salary
Airfield lighting engineer and technician roles, qualifications, site duties and salary factors in India.
Read the guideNo guide matches that search. Try a shorter term such as "CCR" or "runway".
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is the AGL Engineering Centre?
The AGL Engineering Centre is a collection of 69 in-depth engineering guides on Airfield Ground Lighting, covering the physics of the series circuit, lighting-system design, power and control equipment, installation, testing, NOTAM reporting and the ICAO, FAA and EASA standards behind it all.
Q2What disciplines does the Engineering Centre cover?
Fifteen, from Foundations, Standards and Compliance and Lighting Systems through power, control, installation, testing, PAPI, photometry and maintenance, to Field Operations, Safety and Response (5 guides), Reference, Diagrams and Documentation (5), and Apron, LED and Careers (4).
Q3Where should I start in the Engineering Centre?
The Foundations discipline is labelled Start here. It contains All About Airfield Ground Lighting (the complete guide), The Physics of AGL, and AGL Design and Electrical Engineering.
Q4Which guides cover ICAO, FAA and EASA standards?
The Standards and Compliance discipline has three guides: ICAO Annex 14 AGL Requirements, FAA AC 150/5340 Series Explained, and EASA CS-ADR-DSN and AGL Compliance.
Q5Which guides cover airfield lighting systems?
The Lighting Systems discipline covers runway lighting, approach lighting, taxiway lighting, the PAPI engineering guide, apron lighting and stand guidance systems, and obstruction lighting and marking.
Q6Which guides cover runway safety and surface guidance?
The Surface Guidance and Runway Safety discipline covers runway guard lights and stop bars, runway incursion prevention and SMGCS, airfield signage and taxiway guidance signs, and airfield markings and signage integration.
Q7Which guides cover power, control and protection equipment?
The Power, Control and Protection discipline covers the constant current regulator (CCR), isolating transformers, cables and connector engineering, ALCMS, emergency backup power, and surge protection and lightning mitigation.
Q8Which guides cover installation, testing and operations?
The Installation, Testing and Operations discipline covers AGL installation and commissioning, testing and inspection, photometry, and NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen).
Q9Does the Engineering Centre cover LED, portable and solar lighting?
Yes. The Fixture and Power Technologies discipline has guides on LED airfield ground lighting, portable airfield lighting (PAGL) and solar airfield lighting (SAGL).
Q10How do I find a specific guide on the Engineering Centre page?
Use the search box to filter guides by keyword, for example CCR, PAPI or photometry, or use the discipline links to jump straight to a group of guides.
Q11How does the Engineering Centre relate to the Knowledge Hub?
The Engineering Centre is the set of 69 in-depth engineering guides, while the AGL Knowledge Hub is the broader platform organised around lifecycle divisions. The Engineering Centre page links back to the Knowledge Hub.
Q12Who can help apply this engineering to an airfield?
The page states that Precision AGL Solutions supports design, photometry, testing and compliance, and provides a Get in touch link for enquiries.
Study the Engineering. Apply the Standards. Build AGL Expertise.
The Engineering Centre gives you 69 in-depth guides on the physics, design, equipment and standards behind Airfield Ground Lighting.
Learn how series circuits, CCRs, lighting systems, ALCMS, photometry, testing and ICAO, FAA and EASA requirements connect across the complete AGL system.
Turn technical reference knowledge into a deeper understanding of how AGL assets are planned, managed, operated and sustained throughout their lifecycle.
Study deeper. Apply the standards. Build technical capability.
Build structured knowledge in:
Need it applied to your airfield?
Precision AGL Solutions supports design, photometry, testing and compliance.