A standardized inspection methodology for obstruction lighting and associated aerodrome lighting assets that fall outside the main runway/taxiway AGL divisions — obstruction lights and their supporting structures, apron lighting, apron-edge lighting, apron floodlighting, windcone lighting, and windsock assemblies. Covers physical, optical, mechanical, electrical, structural, and environmental condition, together with control, monitoring, and alarm functions where applicable.
Critical control — Obstruction and associated lighting should be inspected according to the specific function and installation type of each asset. A single inspection criterion should not automatically be applied to all assets, because obstruction lights, apron floodlights, and windcone systems have different operational purposes and performance requirements. This division is kept separate from the main runway/taxiway AGL inspection divisions because these assets have different functions and different inspection priorities.
Illumination alone does not establish compliance — an obstruction light being ON does not necessarily mean correct intensity/characteristic, correct visibility, and correct structural installation. A windcone light being ON does not necessarily mean the windsock assembly is serviceable and clearly visible/moving correctly. Particular attention should be given to obstruction-light availability, flashing characteristics where applicable, lens/optical contamination, visibility, structural corrosion, mounting/support integrity, cable and power connections, apron floodlight aiming, apron-edge-light condition, windcone lighting, windsock fabric and support, vegetation/environmental encroachment, and failure monitoring/alarms.
Inspection of the complete obstruction-light installation for physical, mechanical, and environmental condition, and verification of light identification, location, structure association, asset records, and correspondence with the approved application/design.
Verification of normal visible light output, applicable ON/OFF operating state, brightness/intensity, flashing operation and flash characteristic where required, applicable colour, visibility from relevant operational viewpoints, and review of applicable photometric/test records.
Inspection of lens/optical window and applicable optical component condition, including cracking, contamination, discoloration, internal condensation, and evidence of water entering the fixture.
Inspection of the mechanical mounting arrangement, mounting hardware, fixture stability, applicable orientation, alignment, excessive movement/vibration where relevant, and corrosion of mounting hardware and fixture components.
Inspection of cables associated with obstruction lighting, including routing and mechanical protection, insulation condition, mechanical damage, cable supports and attachment, cable entry into the fixture/equipment, and applicable cable-entry sealing.
Inspection of the electrical power connection, accessible terminals, applicable power-cable termination, power-supply status, electrical protection, protective earthing/bonding, and applicable power-failure monitoring/alarm functionality, including command/feedback consistency where remotely controlled or monitored.
Inspection of the structure supporting obstruction lighting, including corrosion and material deterioration, cracks/deformation/impact damage, accessible fasteners, the supporting foundation, base plates/brackets, verticality, applicable lightning-protection arrangements, structure-mounted cable supports, and effects of wind, weather, corrosion, and pollution.
Inspection of apron lighting installations and individual fixtures, including general illumination condition, fixture orientation/aiming, mounting arrangements and stability, associated cables and cable entries, applicable connectors, lenses/optical surfaces, corrosion, moisture/water entry, contamination, and applicable local or remote control.
Inspection of apron-edge lighting fixtures, including applicable installation location, fixture orientation, normal illumination, fixture stability and mounting hardware, optical surfaces, cable entry/condition, connectors, base/base-can and pavement interface, and impact or mechanical damage.
Inspection of floodlighting equipment, including normal light output, fixture aiming and orientation, poles/brackets/mounting hardware and stability, lens/optical condition, contamination, power and control cables, electrical connections and supply condition, applicable local or remote control arrangements, and supporting structure corrosion/deterioration.
Inspection of lighting associated with the windcone/windsock system, including normal illumination, mounting arrangements, applicable fixture orientation, optical surfaces, cable condition and routing, electrical supply and connections, moisture/water entry, corrosion, applicable control arrangements, and vegetation affecting windsock visibility or movement.
Inspection of the complete windsock assembly, including fabric/seams/colour/tearing/fading/contamination/deterioration, visibility under applicable operating conditions, mounting arrangements, support poles/brackets/arms, free movement/rotation, mechanical damage, foundation condition where accessible, associated cables and lighting connections, and effects of corrosion, weathering, contamination, and vegetation encroachment.
Standard parameters, classification, minimum record content, and inspection workflow that apply across obstruction lighting, structural supports, apron lighting/edge-lighting/floodlighting, windcone lighting, and windsock assemblies.
| Parameter | Inspection Status |
|---|---|
| Asset Identification | Correct / Incorrect / Missing |
| Fixture Condition | Good / Damaged |
| Illumination | Normal / Abnormal |
| Colour | Normal / Abnormal |
| Flashing | Normal / Abnormal / N/A |
| Flash Characteristic | Correct / Abnormal / N/A |
| Visibility | Good / Restricted |
| Lens | Good / Damaged / Contaminated |
| Mounting | Secure / Deficient |
| Orientation | Correct / Misaligned |
| Cable | Good / Damaged |
| Cable Entry | Good / Deficient |
| Power Connection | Good / Deficient |
| Earthing/Bonding | Good / Deficient / N/A |
| Structural Support | Good / Defective |
| Foundation | Good / Defective / N/A |
| Corrosion | None / Present |
| Water/Moisture | None / Present |
| Environmental Condition | Good / Deficient |
| Apron Lighting | Normal / Defective / N/A |
| Apron Edge Lighting | Normal / Defective / N/A |
| Apron Floodlighting | Normal / Defective / N/A |
| Windcone Lighting | Normal / Defective / N/A |
| Windsock | Good / Damaged |
| Windsock Movement | Normal / Restricted |
| Control/Monitoring | Normal / Defective / N/A |
| Alarm | Normal / Abnormal / N/A |
| Defect Status | Normal / Defective / Unserviceable / Immediate Action Required |
Every observation should be assigned an appropriate status:
NormalEquipment/condition satisfactory and operating as expected.
DefectiveAbnormality or defect identified but equipment remains operational or condition does not require immediate withdrawal.
UnserviceableEquipment or system is not available for its intended function.
Immediate Action RequiredCondition presents an operational, electrical, safety, or airside risk requiring immediate escalation/action.
Each obstruction/associated-lighting inspection record should include:
Quick answers about obstruction & associated lighting inspection in the AGL Inspection Handbook.
Division 17 contains 12 published topics in 15 sections (A–O). It gives a standardized inspection methodology for obstruction lighting and associated aerodrome lighting assets that fall outside the main runway and taxiway AGL divisions, including their supporting structures.
It covers obstruction lights and their supporting structures, apron lighting, apron-edge lighting, apron floodlighting, windcone lighting and windsock assemblies. It considers physical, optical, mechanical, electrical, structural and environmental condition, together with control, monitoring and alarm functions where applicable.
No. Illumination alone does not establish compliance. An obstruction light being on does not necessarily mean the intensity or characteristic, visibility and structural installation are correct, and a windcone light being on does not necessarily mean the windsock assembly is serviceable, visible and moving correctly.
The checklist includes asset identification, fixture condition, illumination, colour, flashing and flash characteristic, visibility, lens, mounting, orientation, cable and cable entry, power connection, earthing/bonding, structural support, foundation, corrosion, water/moisture, apron lighting types, windcone lighting, windsock condition and movement, control/monitoring and alarms.
Every observation is assigned one of four statuses. Normal means the equipment or condition is satisfactory and operating as expected. Defective means an abnormality or defect exists but the equipment remains operational or the condition does not require immediate withdrawal. Unserviceable means the equipment or system is not available for its intended function. Immediate Action Required means the condition presents an operational, electrical, safety or airside risk requiring immediate escalation and action.
Alongside the usual date, inspector, observation, status, action and sign-off fields, the record includes the asset type and its location or structure association, the asset identification reference, and a structural or foundation repair reference where applicable.
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.
Obstruction and associated lighting inspection is where hazard-marking 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.