A standardized methodology for assessing the operational, physical, optical, electrical, mechanical, geometric, and environmental condition of taxiway lighting and associated visual guidance equipment. Covers edge, centreline, clearance bar, exit/junction, rapid-exit, curve, lead-on/lead-off, and intermediate holding position lighting, plus fixture geometry, mechanics, optics, cable/connector interfaces, environmental condition, illumination/brightness, photometric condition, and defect recording.
Important control — Taxiway lighting inspection shall consider not only whether a fixture is illuminated, but also whether the lighting continues to provide correct, continuous, reliable, and operationally meaningful visual guidance. A visual inspection does not replace formal photometric testing, electrical testing, insulation-resistance testing, circuit testing, CCR testing, preventive maintenance, or detailed engineering assessment where these are required.
Inspection of the overall taxiway lighting system for operational availability, dark sections, abnormal illumination, damaged fixtures, and visible defects.
Verification of applicable taxiway lighting circuits, control indications, abnormal outages, and circuit availability.
Verification of applicable lighting intensity levels and identification of abnormal brightness or step response.
Identification, recording, and classification of individual or multiple taxiway light outages.
Verification that taxiway lighting remains clearly visible from the intended operational direction and is not obstructed or excessively contaminated.
Inspection of taxiway edge fixtures for operational status, colour, visibility, physical integrity, and correct installation.
Verification of fixture spacing against the approved taxiway lighting layout.
Verification that fixtures remain at their designated locations relative to the taxiway edge.
Inspection of fixture height and elevation relative to the surrounding pavement and applicable installation requirements.
Verification that fixtures maintain the correct orientation and optical aiming.
Inspection for rotation, displacement, settlement, tilt, or other alignment deviations.
Inspection for normal illumination, reduced output, flickering, partial illumination, or complete outage.
Inspection of centreline fixtures for operational status, visibility, colour, alignment, cleanliness, and physical condition.
Verification of centreline fixture spacing against the approved layout.
Verification of fixture position relative to the designated taxiway centreline.
Inspection for movement, rotation, tilt, or displacement.
Verification of illumination, intensity, continuity, flickering, and abnormal dark sections.
Verification of applicable colour output and identification of abnormal colour conditions.
Inspection of clearance bar lighting for operational status, visibility, colour, physical condition, and correct installation.
Verification of fixture orientation and alignment.
Verification of fixture position and spacing against the approved layout.
Inspection for abnormal brightness, flickering, partial illumination, or outage.
Inspection of lighting associated with taxiway exits for operational condition, visibility, alignment, and physical integrity.
Inspection of lighting arrangements at taxiway intersections and junctions.
Verification that fixtures remain in their designated locations.
Verification of optical orientation and alignment through junction areas.
Inspection for abnormal intensity, missing lights, dark areas, or inconsistent illumination.
Inspection of lighting associated with rapid exit taxiways.
Verification of centreline fixture operation, spacing, alignment, and illumination.
Inspection of the transition between runway and rapid-exit taxiway lighting.
Verification of fixture locations against the approved layout.
Verification that the intended guidance remains clearly visible and unobstructed.
Inspection of lighting through curved taxiway sections.
Verification that fixture spacing remains consistent with the approved layout and curve geometry.
Verification of optical orientation through curved sections.
Inspection for displaced, rotated, tilted, or incorrectly oriented fixtures.
Verification that illumination provides continuous visual guidance through the curve.
Inspection of applicable lead-on lighting arrangements providing guidance toward the runway.
Inspection of applicable lead-off lighting arrangements providing guidance away from the runway.
Verification of correct fixture orientation and guidance continuity.
Verification of fixture locations and spacing against the approved design.
Inspection for missing, weak, flickering, or failed fixtures.
Inspection of applicable lighting at intermediate holding positions.
Verification of correct orientation and alignment.
Verification that the lighting is clearly visible from the intended operational approach.
Inspection for abnormal brightness, missing fixtures, partial illumination, or outage.
Inspection of fixture mounting, location, spacing, elevation, and physical condition.
Verification of fixture spacing against the approved lighting layout.
Verification of fixture position relative to taxiway geometry.
Verification of fixture height/elevation relative to pavement and applicable requirements.
Verification of optical orientation and aiming.
Inspection for displacement, rotation, settlement, tilt, or movement.
Verification that installation remains consistent with approved drawings, specifications, and applicable standards.
Inspection of fixture stability, mounting security, fasteners, seating, and mechanical integrity.
Inspection of frangible components for damage, deformation, corrosion, incorrect installation, or compromised frangibility.
Inspection of base cans for corrosion, damage, water accumulation, structural condition, and mounting integrity.
Inspection for cracked housings, impact damage, deformation, loose components, broken hardware, or other physical defects.
Verification that the fixture remains properly seated and securely mounted.
Inspection of lenses, prisms, optical windows, and optical assemblies for damage or deterioration.
Inspection for dust, rubber deposits, oil, mud, insects, chemical contamination, and other deposits.
Identification of cracked, chipped, loose, displaced, or missing optical components.
Verification that optical components remain correctly positioned and aligned.
Inspection of secondary leads for insulation damage, abrasion, cuts, exposed conductors, improper routing, and mechanical stress.
Inspection of connectors for secure connection, corrosion, contamination, damage, moisture, and sealing condition.
Inspection of applicable L-823 plug/receptacle assemblies for physical integrity, connection security, moisture protection, and correct installation.
Inspection of cable-entry points for sealing, strain relief, mechanical protection, and water ingress.
Verification that applicable cable glands, seals, and entry arrangements remain effective.
Inspection for evidence of water penetration, condensation, corrosion, or contamination at connector interfaces.
Identification of dirt, dust, rubber deposits, mud, oil, vegetation, insects, and other contamination.
Inspection for standing water, condensation, moisture marks, damaged seals, and internal water penetration.
Inspection of seals and gaskets for cracking, deterioration, displacement, compression loss, or incorrect seating.
Inspection of metallic fixtures, base cans, mounting hardware, connectors, and associated components.
Inspection of drainage around fixtures and identification of conditions that may contribute to water accumulation or equipment deterioration.
Assessment of visible brightness and identification of abnormal intensity differences.
Identification of significant visual differences between adjacent fixtures or sections.
Identification of intermittent, unstable, or flickering illumination.
Identification of fixtures producing incomplete or abnormal optical output.
Identification and recording of consecutive or grouped unserviceable fixtures.
Assessment of taxiway lighting photometric performance using the applicable approved test methodology.
Assessment of measured or observed intensity against applicable criteria.
Assessment of intensity variation between applicable fixtures and locations.
Assessment of applicable colour performance where formal photometric testing is required.
Review of measured photometric results and identification of deficient fixtures or sections.
Recording and classification of fixtures failing applicable photometric criteria.
Identification of operational, mechanical, optical, electrical, environmental, geometric, and photometric defects.
Classification according to operational significance and required corrective response.
Recording of taxiway, section, location, fixture identification, and exact defect position.
Recording of temporary and permanent corrective actions.
Verification that corrective work has restored the required condition.
Each applicable fixture should be assessed against the relevant parameters below — the common checklist spine underlying all 89 topics above.
| Parameter | Inspection Status |
|---|---|
| Operational Status | Normal / Failed / Abnormal |
| Illumination | Normal / Reduced / Abnormal |
| Brightness | Normal / Low / Uneven |
| Colour | Correct / Abnormal |
| Spacing | Correct / Deviation |
| Location | Correct / Displaced |
| Height/Elevation | Correct / Deviation |
| Orientation | Correct / Deviated |
| Alignment | Correct / Misaligned |
| Frangibility | Serviceable / Damaged |
| Mounting/Stability | Secure / Loose / Damaged |
| Lens/Prism | Good / Contaminated / Damaged |
| Secondary Cable | Good / Damaged |
| Connector | Good / Damaged / Corroded |
| Base Can | Good / Damaged / Corroded |
| Cable Entry | Sealed / Damaged |
| Mechanical Condition | Good / Damaged |
| Contamination | None / Present |
| Water Ingress | None / Suspected / Confirmed |
| Corrosion | None / Present |
| Photometric Condition | Acceptable / Deficient |
| Defect Status | Normal / Defective / Unserviceable / Immediate Action Required |
A short answer on the taxiway lighting inspection checklist, taken from the standard parameters in this division. Acceptance criteria come from the approved design and current standard.
A taxiway lighting inspection checklist assesses each fixture against the standard parameters: operational status, illumination, brightness, colour, spacing, location, height or elevation, orientation, alignment, frangibility, mounting and stability, lens and prism condition, secondary cable, connector, base can, cable entry, mechanical condition, contamination, water ingress, corrosion, photometric condition and defect status. The workflow runs from layout review through classification, recording, escalation, correction and verification to close-out.
Quick answers about taxiway lighting inspection in the AGL Inspection Handbook.
Division 03 contains 89 published topics in 17 sections (A–Q). It gives a standardized methodology for assessing the operational, physical, optical, electrical, mechanical, geometric and environmental condition of taxiway lighting and associated visual guidance equipment.
It covers taxiway edge, centreline, clearance bar, exit and junction, rapid exit, curve, lead-on/lead-off and intermediate holding position lighting. Further sections cover fixture geometry, mechanical condition, optical and lens condition, electrical connection and cabling, environmental condition, illumination and brightness, photometric condition, and defect identification and recording.
The common checklist includes operational status, illumination, brightness, colour, spacing, location, height/elevation, orientation, alignment, frangibility, mounting stability, lens/prism, secondary cable, connector, base can, cable entry, contamination, water ingress, corrosion and photometric condition, each with defined status values.
The sequence is review layout, identify lighting type, inspect location and spacing, check height/elevation, check orientation and alignment, verify illumination, and inspect optical, mechanical and cable/connector condition. It then checks water and contamination, assesses photometric condition, and finishes with classify, record, escalate, correct, verify and close.
Defect status is recorded using the four-level scheme Normal, Defective, Unserviceable and Immediate Action Required, so every observation ends with a clear classification before it is recorded and escalated.
Taxiway lighting inspection considers not only whether a fixture is illuminated but whether the lighting continues to provide correct, continuous, reliable and operationally meaningful visual guidance. The checklist therefore records location, spacing, height/elevation, orientation and alignment, and treats illumination, brightness and colour as separate checks.
No. A visual inspection does not replace formal photometric testing, electrical testing, insulation-resistance testing, circuit testing, CCR testing, preventive maintenance or detailed engineering assessment where these are required.
Yes. This handbook is an uncontrolled educational reference, not an approved procedure. The airport's approved inspection schedule, SMS procedures, ATC instructions, NOTAM procedures and local aerodrome regulations always take precedence, and the current revision of any official document should be verified before use.
Yes. Each inspection topic has a Download as Word option that produces an uncontrolled Word checklist template (description, a tick-box inspection table and an inspector sign-off block) for personal reference and internal training, to be reviewed and adopted under the user’s own document control.
A taxiway lighting inspection checklist covers operational status, illumination, brightness, colour, spacing, location, height, orientation, alignment, frangibility, mounting, lens and prism, secondary cable, connector, base can, cable entry, contamination, water ingress, corrosion, photometric condition and defect status, followed by classification, recording, escalation, correction and verification.
Taxiway lighting inspection is where centreline and edge-light condition awareness begins. Go beyond identifying defects and build the technical knowledge to understand why abnormalities occur, how they affect system serviceability, and when further testing, troubleshooting, maintenance or corrective action is required.
Develop structured knowledge across:
Learn to connect the inspection process with the wider AGL engineering lifecycle.
Inspect with purpose. Understand the system. Act with technical confidence.
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