Engineering procedures covering activities before physical installation — AGL system planning, runway/taxiway/approach/PAPI/signage planning, circuit architecture, CCR and equipment selection, load and voltage calculations, layout drawings, cable and equipment schedules, BOQ preparation, technical submittal and compliance review, as-built verification and design change control.
Important — These SOPs provide an engineering framework. Final design criteria, photometric requirements, spacing, tolerances, equipment characteristics and installation details shall be verified against the applicable current ICAO, FAA, DGCA India, relevant Indian Standards, airport standards, project specifications and manufacturer's approved data.
To establish a systematic method for planning an Airfield Ground Lighting system before detailed engineering and installation.
The design team shall obtain, as applicable:
To establish the engineering approach for runway lighting.
Review:
To establish the lighting requirements for taxiways and associated aircraft movement routes.
Consider:
To plan an approach lighting system consistent with the applicable runway approach requirements.
To establish a controlled engineering process for planning PAPI installations.
Consider:
To plan mandatory, location, direction, information and other airfield signs as required.
To establish the electrical architecture for AGL circuits.
To ensure that AGL series circuits are configured correctly for the intended operating current and system requirements.
Review:
To select a Constant Current Regulator suitable for the proposed AGL circuit.
Consider:
To verify that the selected CCR can safely and reliably supply the intended circuit.
Determine:
Then verify: CCR Capacity ≥ Required Design Load.
The design shall also consider manufacturer-defined operating limits and applicable derating requirements.
To select suitable isolating transformers for AGL fixtures and circuits.
Consider:
To select appropriate AGL fixtures based on operational and technical requirements.
Consider:
To select suitable AGL cables for primary and secondary circuits.
Consider:
To select appropriate AGL connectors for reliable cable and transformer connections.
Consider:
To select compliant airfield signs based on location and operational function.
Review:
The approved signage schedule shall include:
To calculate electrical loading of AGL circuits and associated equipment.
The calculated load shall be compared against:
All calculations shall be traceable to approved equipment data.
To verify that electrical voltage performance remains within acceptable design limits.
Consider:
To independently verify the electrical integrity of a proposed AGL series circuit.
Verify:
The circuit should undergo an independent engineering review before construction approval.
To verify that each isolating transformer is appropriately selected for its connected load.
To create a controlled master schedule of AGL equipment.
The schedule should include:
Equipment schedule quantities shall be cross-checked against:
To prepare an accurate Bill of Quantities for AGL works.
To establish a controlled record of AGL cables and their circuit routing.
Include:
Cable schedule shall be checked against:
To establish consistent identification of AGL circuits and equipment.
The project should establish unique IDs for:
To ensure AGL layout drawings accurately represent the intended design.
Check:
Use a formal drawing review/comment system and record all technical comments.
To establish a controlled review process for vendor/manufacturer technical submissions.
Examples:
To independently verify that the AGL design complies with applicable requirements.
Operational:
Electrical:
Photometric:
Civil/Mechanical:
Documentation:
Prepare a compliance matrix showing: Requirement → Design Response → Evidence → Status.
To ensure that as-built documentation accurately represents the installed AGL system.
Use:
Confirm the following against the installed system:
To ensure that changes to approved AGL designs are technically evaluated, documented and controlled.
Step 1 — Identify Change: document the existing design, proposed change, reason for change and originator.
Step 2 — Technical Assessment: assess impact on safety, electrical design, photometry, operations, civil works, maintenance, cost, programme and documentation.
Step 3 — Approval: obtain approval from the designated technical/engineering authority.
Step 4 — Update Documentation: update affected drawings, BOQ, equipment schedule, cable schedule, circuit schedule, calculations, specifications, test procedures and as-built information.
Step 5 — Implementation: only the approved revision shall be issued for construction.
Step 6 — Verification: confirm that the installed change matches the approved change.
Step 7 — Closeout: record the change reference, date, reason, technical assessment, approval, implementation status and updated documents.
Master workflow, quality-control principles and the review checklist that apply across all 28 Division 03 procedures.
The recommended engineering workflow is:
Principle 01 — One Source of Truth
The latest approved design revision shall be the controlling engineering document.
Principle 02 — Drawing-to-BOQ Traceability
Every major BOQ item should be traceable to the approved drawings and specifications.
Principle 03 — Circuit-to-Equipment Traceability
Every AGL circuit should be traceable to: CCR → Cable → Transformer → Fixture/Sign → Control/Monitoring.
Principle 04 — Design-to-As-Built Traceability
The final installed system shall be traceable back to the approved design, with all authorized deviations documented.
Principle 05 — Independent Verification
Critical calculations and design decisions should undergo independent technical review.
Principle 06 — Design for Maintainability
Principle 07 — Safety by Design
Safety shall be considered during design rather than added after installation.
Before approving an AGL design, verify:
"No AGL installation should begin from an unverified design. Plan the operational requirement, define the circuit architecture, select compatible equipment, verify the electrical and photometric design, cross-check the BOQ and drawings, control every design change, and ensure the final as-built system accurately represents what was installed."
Each project should adapt these SOPs to its own approved aerodrome requirements, applicable regulatory requirements, operational concept, aircraft movement areas, declared distances, obstacle environment, electrical system characteristics, maintainability criteria and approved project specifications.
Local project specifications, airport standards and authorized engineering instructions shall take precedence wherever they impose more restrictive requirements.
Technical references behind the procedures in this division:
References are given at document or chapter level for technical orientation. Confirm the current edition, amendments and national adoption (for example DGCA CAR Section 4, FAA Advisory Circulars or EASA material) for each project. Approved project specifications, manufacturer instructions and the airport's own procedures take precedence, as stated in the precedence note above.
Quick answers about AGL Planning & Design SOPs in the AGL SOP Library.
Division 03 is a set of 28 engineering procedures (SOP-51 to SOP-78, Rev 0) covering work before physical installation. It includes AGL system planning for runway, taxiway, approach, PAPI and signage; circuit architecture; CCR and equipment selection; load and voltage calculations; layout drawings; cable and equipment schedules; BOQ preparation; submittal and compliance review; as-built verification and design change control.
These SOPs are an engineering framework. Final design criteria, photometric requirements, spacing, tolerances, equipment characteristics and installation details must be verified against the current applicable ICAO, FAA, DGCA India and Indian Standards requirements, airport standards, project specifications and the manufacturer's approved data.
It runs from project requirements, site and existing data, and the design basis through AGL system planning, circuit architecture, CCR and equipment selection, load calculation and circuit verification. Then come layout drawings, schedules, BOQ, technical submittal review and design compliance review, approval for construction, site verification, as-built verification and final documentation.
SOP-66 considers fixture and transformer quantity and rating, fixture and auxiliary load, cable losses, maximum circuit load and design margin. The result is compared against CCR, transformer, cable and distribution capacity, protection settings and future expansion, and all calculations must be traceable to approved equipment data.
Voltage performance is verified for the complete circuit, not only individual cable sections (SOP-67). The calculation considers cable length and impedance, circuit current, and conductor, transformer and fixture characteristics, reviews the worst-case operating condition and is documented.
Every major BOQ item should trace to approved drawings and specifications, and every AGL circuit should trace from CCR to cable to transformer to fixture or sign to control and monitoring. The installed system must trace back to the approved design, with authorized deviations documented.
SOP-78 requires identifying the change with its reason and originator, assessing its impact on safety, electrical design, photometry, operations, civil works, maintenance, cost, programme and documentation, and obtaining approval from the designated technical authority. Affected drawings, BOQ and documents are then updated.
SOP-77 compares approved design with the installed system: fixture, transformer, pit, CCR and sign locations, cable routes and recorded lengths, circuit and equipment IDs, control interfaces, modifications and deviations. Deviations are physically verified, drawings and schedules updated, and engineering review completed before controlled as-built documents are issued.
Knowing the design procedure is essential. Understanding why layout, circuit zoning and equipment selection decisions matter, and how they shape the finished AGL system, takes deeper technical knowledge.
Learn through structured training covering:
Develop the technical foundation to work with AGL systems systematically, safely and confidently.
Please read before relying on any content on this page or on any SOP downloaded from it.