A standardized methodology for assessing the operational, optical, electrical, mechanical, structural, geometric, and environmental condition of Approach Lighting Systems (ALS). Covers fixtures, light bars, crossbars, support poles, foundations, frangible components, cabling, isolating transformers, connectors, structural condition, geometry/alignment, vegetation/obstructions, cleanliness, photometric performance, and defect recording — the only division in the handbook that inspects a support structure alongside the lighting itself.
Important control — Approach lighting inspection shall evaluate both lighting performance and structural integrity. A fixture that remains illuminated may still be considered deficient if its alignment, elevation, optical condition, support structure, foundation, frangible arrangement, cable connection, or surrounding environment has deteriorated. Visual inspection does not replace formal photometric testing, electrical testing, insulation-resistance testing, circuit testing, transformer testing, structural assessment, or other specialized testing where required.
Inspection of the overall ALS for operational availability, missing lights, abnormal illumination, damaged components, structural defects, and visible deficiencies.
Verification of applicable approach lighting circuits, circuit availability, control indications, abnormal outages, and system response.
Verification of applicable intensity levels and identification of abnormal response between available lighting steps.
Identification and recording of individual, grouped, or complete approach light outages.
Verification that the visual lighting sequence remains continuous and provides the intended approach guidance.
Verification that the installed lighting arrangement remains consistent with the approved configuration and layout.
Inspection of individual approach light fixtures for operational status, physical integrity, cleanliness, alignment, and illumination.
Verification of fixture location against the approved ALS layout.
Verification of longitudinal and lateral fixture spacing where applicable.
Verification of correct optical orientation and aiming.
Verification of fixture elevation relative to the approved installation arrangement.
Inspection of fixture mounting, fasteners, brackets, supports, and mechanical stability.
Identification of cracked, bent, broken, displaced, loose, or impact-damaged fixtures.
Verification that the main light bars remain correctly positioned and aligned with the approved approach lighting geometry.
Verification of light bar location relative to the runway centreline and approved layout.
Verification of light bar elevation and any visible settlement or displacement.
Inspection of crossbars for structural integrity, deformation, damage, loose components, and corrosion.
Verification that crossbars remain correctly oriented and positioned.
Inspection of mounting points, brackets, fasteners, and mechanical connections.
Inspection for movement, looseness, deformation, excessive vibration, or other conditions affecting structural stability.
Inspection of support poles for structural condition, alignment, damage, corrosion, and stability.
Inspection for leaning, bending, displacement, or other deviation from the intended vertical position.
Inspection for corrosion, cracks, deformation, impact damage, coating deterioration, and other surface defects.
Inspection of pole joints, brackets, clamps, bolts, welds, and other structural connections.
Inspection of the lower pole section and interface with the foundation for corrosion, damage, movement, and deterioration.
Inspection of foundations for cracks, settlement, deterioration, displacement, exposed reinforcement, and other defects.
Assessment of visible foundation movement, tilting, settlement, or loss of structural stability.
Inspection of anchor bolts, mounting plates, nuts, washers, brackets, and other connection components.
Inspection for water accumulation, poor drainage, erosion, or conditions that may deteriorate the foundation.
Inspection for erosion, settlement, loose soil, standing water, debris, or other conditions affecting the structure.
Inspection of frangible couplings, supports, brackets, and other applicable frangible components.
Inspection for cracking, deformation, corrosion, incorrect assembly, damage, or other conditions affecting frangibility.
Verification that frangible supports remain correctly positioned and have not been bent or displaced.
Inspection of bolts, nuts, washers, retaining components, and other associated hardware.
Verification of applicable emitted colour and identification of abnormal colour, discoloration, or colour variation.
Inspection for normal illumination, reduced output, flickering, partial illumination, and complete outage.
Inspection of lenses, prisms, optical windows, and other optical components for cracking, clouding, contamination, or damage.
Inspection of optical surfaces for dust, mud, insects, oil, chemical deposits, vegetation, and other contamination.
Verification that the optical system remains correctly oriented.
Assessment of photometric performance where formal photometric testing is applicable.
Inspection of approach lighting cables for physical integrity, routing, insulation condition, and mechanical protection.
Verification that cables remain correctly routed, secured, supported, and protected.
Inspection of conduits, ducts, protective sleeves, cable supports, and other protection systems.
Identification of cuts, abrasion, exposed conductors, cracking, deterioration, or other visible insulation defects.
Inspection of cable joints, terminations, and interfaces for physical integrity and correct installation.
Identification of moisture penetration, damaged seals, water accumulation, or other environmental exposure.
Inspection of applicable isolating transformers for physical condition, mounting, identification, and visible damage.
Inspection for cracks, corrosion, deformation, damaged sealing arrangements, and physical deterioration.
Inspection of primary and secondary connections for security, damage, corrosion, and moisture ingress.
Inspection of cable-entry arrangements, secondary leads, connectors, and sealing.
Verification that transformer identification remains legible and corresponds with the applicable lighting location/circuit records.
Inspection of connectors for physical integrity, security, contamination, corrosion, and moisture protection.
Inspection of applicable L-823 plug/receptacle assemblies for connection security, sealing, damage, and corrosion.
Inspection for evidence of moisture penetration, condensation, corrosion, or contamination.
Inspection for excessive cable tension, unsupported connectors, bending, twisting, or other mechanical stress.
Inspection of the complete support structure for damage, deformation, corrosion, instability, and deterioration.
Inspection of poles, crossbars, brackets, fasteners, supports, mounting plates, and other metallic components.
Identification of bent, twisted, displaced, or otherwise deformed structural members.
Inspection of bolts, nuts, washers, clamps, brackets, and other fastening arrangements.
Inspection of structural joints, welds, connections, brackets, and interfaces.
Assessment of visible movement, looseness, settlement, or other conditions affecting structural stability.
Verification of overall ALS alignment relative to the runway centreline and approved layout.
Verification of light bar position, orientation, spacing, and elevation.
Verification that individual fixtures are correctly oriented.
Verification that fixtures maintain their designated elevation.
Verification of support pole position relative to the approved installation geometry.
Comparison of field conditions against approved drawings, coordinates, installation records, or applicable design requirements.
Inspection for vegetation growth affecting approach light visibility, access, equipment condition, or structural components.
Identification of objects, structures, equipment, debris, or other obstructions affecting light visibility.
Inspection for vegetation contacting fixtures, poles, cables, transformers, or other equipment.
Inspection of access routes around approach lighting equipment for obstruction, erosion, water accumulation, and unsafe conditions.
Identification of visible environmental conditions affecting approach lighting equipment, where applicable.
Inspection for dust, mud, insects, oil, chemical deposits, bird activity, vegetation, and other contamination.
Inspection for moisture, condensation, water accumulation, damaged seals, and evidence of internal water penetration.
Inspection for persistent water exposure, drainage problems, or conditions contributing to structural deterioration.
Inspection of fixtures, poles, crossbars, brackets, connectors, transformers, base components, and fasteners for corrosion.
Inspection of drainage around foundations, transformers, cable routes, and lighting fixtures.
Identification of objects, FOD, vegetation, equipment, or structural damage affecting the ALS.
Inspection for impact damage, broken components, displacement, missing hardware, and physical deterioration.
Identification of collision, vehicle, equipment, weather, or other impact damage.
Identification of missing fixtures, fasteners, brackets, covers, optical components, cables, or other required components.
Identification of visible modifications, temporary arrangements, or installations inconsistent with approved configuration.
Formal assessment of applicable photometric performance using the approved measurement methodology.
Assessment of measured light intensity against applicable criteria.
Assessment of intensity consistency across applicable approach light positions.
Assessment of applicable colour and chromaticity performance.
Verification that optical aiming remains within the applicable requirements.
Identification and recording of fixtures or sections failing applicable photometric criteria.
Identification of operational, optical, electrical, structural, mechanical, environmental, geometric, and photometric defects.
Classification of defects according to operational significance and required corrective response.
Recording of runway end, approach section, light bar, pole, fixture, or equipment identification.
Recording of temporary and permanent corrective actions.
Verification that corrective action has restored the required operational and physical condition.
Every applicable ALS component should be assessed against the relevant parameters below — the common checklist spine underlying all 93 topics above.
| Parameter | Inspection Status |
|---|---|
| System Status | Normal / Abnormal |
| Fixture Operation | Normal / Failed / Abnormal |
| Illumination | Normal / Reduced / Abnormal |
| Colour | Correct / Abnormal |
| Alignment | Correct / Deviated |
| Orientation | Correct / Deviated |
| Elevation | Correct / Deviated |
| Light Bar | Good / Damaged / Misaligned |
| Crossbar | Good / Damaged / Corroded |
| Pole | Good / Damaged / Corroded |
| Foundation | Good / Cracked / Settled / Damaged |
| Frangible Components | Serviceable / Damaged |
| Mounting | Secure / Loose / Damaged |
| Cable | Good / Damaged |
| Cable Routing | Correct / Damaged / Unsupported |
| Transformer | Good / Damaged / Abnormal |
| Connector | Good / Damaged / Corroded |
| Lens/Prism | Good / Contaminated / Damaged |
| Structural Corrosion | None / Present |
| Water Ingress | None / Suspected / Confirmed |
| Vegetation | Clear / Encroaching |
| Obstruction | None / Present |
| Photometric Condition | Acceptable / Deficient |
| Defect Status | Normal / Defective / Unserviceable / Immediate Action Required |
Quick answers about approach lighting inspection in the AGL Inspection Handbook.
Division 04 contains 93 published topics in 17 sections (A–Q). It gives a standardized methodology for assessing the operational, optical, electrical, mechanical, structural, geometric and environmental condition of Approach Lighting Systems (ALS).
Alongside fixtures, it covers light bars and crossbars, support poles, foundations and ground condition, frangible components, cabling, isolating transformers, connectors, structural condition, geometry and alignment, vegetation and obstructions, cleanliness, photometric performance and defect recording.
Yes. A fixture that remains illuminated may still be considered deficient if its alignment, elevation, optical condition, support structure, foundation, frangible arrangement, cable connection or surrounding environment has deteriorated. This is why Division 04 inspects poles, crossbars, foundations and frangible components alongside the fixtures.
The sequence is review ALS layout, identify system or section, inspect light bars and fixtures, verify location and spacing, check alignment, orientation and elevation, and inspect poles, crossbars and foundations. It then covers frangible components, cables, transformers and connectors, optical condition, corrosion and water, vegetation and obstructions, illumination and photometric assessment where required, and ends 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.
Yes. Section M covers vegetation and obstruction inspection, and the checklist records vegetation as Clear or Encroaching and obstruction as None or Present.
No. Visual inspection does not replace formal photometric testing, electrical testing, insulation-resistance testing, circuit testing, transformer testing, structural assessment or other specialized testing where 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.
Approach lighting inspection is where crossbar, sequenced-flasher and centreline-array 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.
Please read before relying on any content on this page or on any record downloaded from it.