What is local control?
Local control is operating airfield lighting from a panel at the CCR or substation, with the selector set to Local so that tower commands are not accepted.
Local control means the airfield lighting is operated from a panel at the equipment, usually at the CCR or in the substation, instead of from the tower or the ALCMS. A selector normally marked Local, Off and Remote decides which source the CCR obeys. In Local, the CCR acts on the panel buttons to switch on or off and change the brightness step, and shows the result on its own display.
While a CCR is in local, commands from the tower are ignored, so two sources cannot fight over one circuit. Local control is used for maintenance, testing, commissioning and fault finding, and as a fallback if the network or ALCMS is unavailable. It carries one real risk: the tower may believe it is in charge when it is not. So ATC is told first and the selector is returned to Remote afterwards. Selector marking, whether status still reaches the tower, and the procedure to follow vary by manufacturer and airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What does local control mean in airfield lighting?
Local control means the lighting is switched and set from a panel at the equipment, normally at the CCR or in the substation, instead of from the tower or the ALCMS. The person at the panel decides what the circuit does.
Q2What is the difference between local and remote control?
In remote control the command comes from the tower or ALCMS and travels over the network to the CCR. In local control the command comes from the panel at the CCR. A selector decides which of the two the CCR will obey at any moment.
Q3Why does the tower lose control when a CCR is in local?
So that two sources cannot give different commands to the same circuit. While the selector is in local, the CCR is designed to act on the local panel only. The tower may still see the status, but its commands will not change the lights.
Q4When is local control used?
Typically for maintenance, testing, commissioning and fault finding, and as a fallback when the communication link or the ALCMS is unavailable. The exact rules are set by the airport's procedures and the manufacturer.
Q5What must be done before and after using local control?
Air traffic control must be told, as the airport procedure requires, because the tower can no longer operate that circuit. When the work is finished the selector is returned to remote, and the tower confirms it has control and the correct status.
Q6What is the risk of leaving a CCR in local?
The tower believes it can command the circuit but cannot. The lights may stay on, off or at the wrong brightness for the traffic situation. A circuit left in local is a common cause of unexpected lighting behaviour, so it should be checked in handover and status reviews.
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