A standardized methodology for assessing the operational, visual, structural, mechanical, electrical, optical, environmental, and installation condition of airfield signs. Covers mandatory signs, direction signs, location signs, information signs, runway exit signs, sign messages, character arrangements, illumination, colour, visibility, housings, faces, mounting systems, foundations, cables, connectors, internal components, LED modules/drivers, and water ingress.
Critical control — Airfield sign inspection shall treat message accuracy as an operational requirement, not merely a documentation issue. A sign may be physically intact and fully illuminated but still be considered defective or operationally unacceptable if the displayed message, location identification, character arrangement, orientation, or directional information is incorrect. Visual inspection does not replace formal electrical testing, photometric testing, insulation-resistance testing, circuit testing, or detailed engineering assessment where required.
Inspection of the overall sign installation for operational availability, physical condition, visibility, damage, contamination, and correct installation.
Verification of sign identification, sign type, location, and applicable designation.
Verification that the sign remains at its approved/designated location.
Verification that the sign is correctly oriented toward the intended viewing direction.
Verification that the sign is clearly visible from the intended operational direction and is not obstructed.
Verification that the installed sign configuration corresponds with approved drawings, airfield layout, and applicable requirements.
Inspection of mandatory signs for message correctness, illumination, colour, visibility, physical integrity, and installation condition.
Verification that the displayed message corresponds with the approved airfield configuration.
Inspection of character sequence, spacing, positioning, and arrangement.
Verification of applicable sign colours and identification of abnormal colour, fading, or discoloration.
Inspection for normal illumination, reduced illumination, flickering, dark sections, or complete outage.
Inspection of direction signs for message accuracy, visibility, illumination, colour, physical condition, and orientation.
Verification that directional information corresponds with the approved taxiway/airfield configuration.
Inspection of arrows, directional indicators, characters, and other visual information.
Verification that the sign faces the intended direction of viewing.
Inspection of illumination uniformity, brightness, flickering, and outages.
Inspection of location signs for correct identification, message, colour, illumination, visibility, and physical condition.
Verification that the displayed location corresponds with the actual taxiway/runway location.
Inspection for incorrect, missing, damaged, or altered characters.
Verification of unobstructed visibility from the intended operational direction.
Inspection of information signs for correct message, character arrangement, colour, visibility, illumination, and physical integrity.
Verification against approved airfield information.
Inspection of character arrangement, spacing, clarity, and physical condition.
Verification that information remains clearly visible from the intended viewing direction.
Inspection of runway exit signs for message accuracy, location, visibility, illumination, orientation, and physical condition.
Verification that the displayed exit identification corresponds with the actual runway exit.
Verification that the sign is correctly oriented for the intended viewing direction.
Inspection for normal illumination, reduced output, flickering, dark areas, or complete outage.
Verification that the sign remains unobstructed and clearly visible.
Verification that the displayed message is correct and corresponds with approved operational information.
Inspection of character sequence, spacing, alignment, and arrangement.
Inspection for damaged, missing, faded, distorted, or obscured characters.
Verification of sign designation, identification number, location, and maintenance records.
Verification that any approved message modification has been correctly implemented.
Identification and escalation of signs displaying incorrect or obsolete information.
Inspection of the sign face for physical damage, contamination, deterioration, cracks, distortion, and other defects.
Inspection for dust, mud, oil, rubber deposits, insects, chemical contamination, and other deposits.
Inspection for fading, discoloration, abnormal colour, or deterioration.
Inspection for uneven illumination, dark sections, bright spots, or inconsistent optical output.
Verification that the sign remains clearly visible under the applicable operating conditions.
Inspection of overall sign illumination and operational status.
Identification of weak, excessive, uneven, or abnormal illumination.
Identification of intermittent or unstable illumination.
Identification of dark characters, dark sections, failed LED modules, or other partial illumination defects.
Inspection of uniformity across the sign face.
Verification of applicable intensity settings where multi-step intensity control is provided.
Inspection of the complete sign enclosure for structural integrity and physical condition.
Identification of cracks, deformation, impact damage, loose panels, and other physical defects.
Inspection for corrosion, oxidation, coating deterioration, and material degradation.
Inspection of sign panels, faces, covers, and associated structural components.
Inspection of accessible internal compartments for visible damage, contamination, corrosion, and abnormal condition.
Inspection of mounting brackets, supports, clamps, bolts, fasteners, and securing arrangements.
Verification that the sign is securely mounted and free from movement, excessive vibration, tilt, or displacement.
Verification that the sign remains correctly aligned and oriented.
Inspection of foundations for cracks, settlement, erosion, deterioration, and structural instability.
Assessment of visible foundation movement, settlement, tilting, or other instability.
Inspection for standing water, poor drainage, erosion, or water-related deterioration.
Inspection of power/control cables for visible damage, deterioration, improper routing, and mechanical stress.
Verification that cables remain correctly routed, supported, secured, and protected.
Inspection of cable-entry points for sealing, strain relief, mechanical protection, and water ingress.
Inspection of connectors for physical integrity, connection security, corrosion, contamination, and moisture.
Inspection of applicable L-823 connector assemblies.
Inspection for evidence of moisture penetration, condensation, corrosion, or contamination.
Inspection of internal wiring for correct routing, secure connections, insulation condition, abrasion, and visible damage.
Inspection of internal terminals, connection points, and electrical interfaces.
Inspection of LED modules for dark segments, abnormal brightness, flickering, colour variation, or physical damage.
Inspection of LED drivers for visible damage, abnormal indications, overheating, loose connections, or deterioration.
Inspection of applicable power supply components for physical condition and abnormal indications.
Inspection of accessible internal electrical/electronic components for damage, contamination, corrosion, loose parts, or abnormal condition.
Inspection for water leakage, moisture penetration, damaged seals, and compromised enclosure protection.
Inspection of internal compartments for water, condensation, corrosion, or moisture marks.
Inspection of enclosure seals, gaskets, access-panel seals, and cable-entry seals.
Identification of condensation inside the sign housing or optical compartments.
Verification that applicable drainage arrangements remain clear and functional.
Assessment of environmental effects such as dust, rain, humidity, salt, chemicals, insects, and temperature exposure.
Inspection for vegetation obstructing the sign face, visibility, access, or equipment.
Identification of vehicles, equipment, structures, debris, vegetation, or other objects blocking visibility.
Inspection for foreign object debris around sign foundations, mounting areas, and cable routes.
Inspection of pavement/ground around the sign for erosion, settlement, standing water, debris, and other abnormal conditions.
Assessment of applicable sign photometric performance using the approved test methodology.
Assessment of measured illumination intensity against applicable criteria.
Assessment of applicable colour and chromaticity performance.
Assessment of illumination uniformity across the sign face.
Identification and recording of signs or sections that fail applicable photometric criteria.
Identification of message, optical, illumination, electrical, mechanical, structural, environmental, and installation defects.
Classification of identified defects according to operational significance.
Recording of runway/taxiway, sign type, identification, location, and defect description.
Recording of temporary and permanent corrective actions.
Verification that corrective action has restored the required operational condition.
Each applicable sign should be assessed against the relevant parameters below — the common checklist spine underlying all 89 topics above.
| Parameter | Inspection Status |
|---|---|
| Sign Type | Correct / Incorrect |
| Sign Identification | Correct / Incorrect / Missing |
| Message | Correct / Incorrect |
| Character Arrangement | Correct / Abnormal |
| Location | Correct / Displaced |
| Orientation | Correct / Deviated |
| Visibility | Clear / Obstructed |
| Illumination | Normal / Reduced / Failed |
| Brightness | Normal / Abnormal |
| Colour | Correct / Abnormal |
| Face | Good / Damaged / Contaminated |
| Housing | Good / Damaged / Corroded |
| Mounting | Secure / Loose / Damaged |
| Foundation | Stable / Damaged / Settled |
| Cable | Good / Damaged |
| Cable Entry | Sealed / Damaged |
| Connector | Good / Damaged / Corroded |
| Internal Wiring | Good / Damaged / Abnormal |
| LED Module | Normal / Degraded / Failed |
| LED Driver | Normal / Abnormal / Failed |
| Water Ingress | None / Suspected / Confirmed |
| Corrosion | None / Present |
| Vegetation | Clear / Encroaching |
| Obstruction | None / Present |
| Photometric Condition | Acceptable / Deficient |
| Defect Status | Normal / Defective / Unserviceable / Immediate Action Required |
Quick answers about airfield sign inspection in the AGL Inspection Handbook.
Division 06 contains 89 published topics in 17 sections (A–Q). It gives a standardized methodology for assessing the operational, visual, structural, mechanical, electrical, optical, environmental and installation condition of airfield signs.
It covers mandatory signs, direction signs, location signs, information signs and runway exit signs, along with sign messages and character arrangements, illumination, colour, visibility, housings, faces, mounting systems, foundations, cables, connectors, internal components, LED modules and drivers, and water ingress.
The common checklist includes sign type, identification, message, character arrangement, location, orientation, visibility, illumination, brightness, colour, face, housing, mounting, foundation, cable and cable entry, connector, internal wiring, LED module, LED driver, water ingress, corrosion, vegetation, obstruction and photometric condition.
Yes. Section G covers sign message and character condition, and the checklist records message as Correct or Incorrect and character arrangement as Correct or Abnormal, in addition to sign type, identification and location.
The sequence identifies the sign, verifies type, location and message, and checks character arrangement, orientation, visibility, illumination and colour. It then inspects the face, housing, mounting, foundation, cable, connector, internal wiring and LED module/driver, checks water ingress, corrosion, vegetation and obstruction, performs a 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. A sign may be physically intact and fully illuminated but still be considered defective or operationally unacceptable if the displayed message, location identification, character arrangement, orientation or directional information is incorrect.
No. Visual inspection does not replace formal electrical testing, photometric testing, insulation-resistance testing, circuit testing or detailed engineering assessment 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.
Airfield sign inspection is where mandatory, information and internally-illuminated sign 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.