Controlled procedures for planned and condition-based AGL maintenance, corrective repair, runway/taxiway/approach/PAPI/sign maintenance, CCR and transformer maintenance, cable and connector repair, lamp/LED/driver replacement, prism and fixture cleaning, fixture alignment, maintenance scheduling and maintenance record traceability.
Technical Control — Maintenance activities shall be performed under the airport's approved maintenance program, work-permit system, electrical safety/LOTO procedure, equipment manufacturer's instructions and applicable aerodrome requirements. No maintenance activity shall compromise the operational status of an active runway/taxiway or introduce FOD or electrical hazards.
To establish a planned maintenance process for detecting deterioration and correcting defects before they result in AGL failure or reduced operational availability.
Applicable to:
Principle — Preventive maintenance shall be condition-based where practical, not merely calendar-based.
To restore AGL equipment to its required operational condition following identification of a defect or failure.
Critical Defects — Safety-critical defects shall be escalated immediately according to the airport's approved operational procedures.
To maintain runway lighting in safe and operational condition.
To maintain taxiway lighting and associated visual guidance equipment.
Follow the same controlled maintenance sequence for every taxiway maintenance activity.
To maintain approach lighting fixtures, structures and associated electrical systems.
Any work involving approach-light structures shall include an assessment of:
To maintain PAPI systems while preserving their approved alignment and optical characteristics.
Critical Rule — Cleaning or component replacement shall not be assumed to preserve PAPI alignment. Where the maintenance activity can affect alignment, perform the applicable alignment verification.
To maintain airfield signs for message correctness, visibility, illumination and structural integrity.
To maintain CCR reliability and prevent operational failure.
To restore a defective CCR to operational condition.
Important — Do not repeatedly reset a CCR protection device without determining the cause of the trip.
To maintain AGL isolation transformers in reliable operating condition.
To maintain primary and secondary AGL cables.
To maintain AGL connectors and prevent moisture, corrosion and contact-related failures.
To safely replace failed or degraded AGL lamps.
Never install a lamp of an incorrect:
To replace defective AGL LED modules while maintaining approved optical performance.
To replace defective LED drivers without compromising fixture electrical/optical performance.
To maintain optical performance by removing contamination from prisms/lenses.
Prohibited — Do not use unapproved abrasive materials or chemicals that can damage optical surfaces.
To maintain fixture visibility and optical performance.
To restore fixture orientation to the approved design/alignment condition.
Critical Rule — Do not align a fixture by visual estimation alone where an approved alignment method or instrument is specified.
To replace defective primary/secondary AGL connectors.
To repair damaged AGL cable while maintaining electrical and mechanical integrity.
To repair defective AGL cable joints and restore circuit integrity.
Joint installation shall follow the specific joint manufacturer's installation instructions regarding:
To maintain sign visibility and illumination by removing contamination.
To maintain PAPI optical clarity and operational performance.
To establish a controlled schedule for AGL preventive maintenance.
Use:
| Category | Typical Activity |
|---|---|
| Daily | Operational/visual inspection |
| Routine | Cleaning and condition checks |
| Periodic | Electrical/mechanical inspection |
| Planned | Component replacement/testing |
| Condition-Based | Maintenance triggered by deterioration |
| Corrective | Failure/defect repair |
| Major | Overhaul/replacement |
The actual frequency shall be defined by the approved airport maintenance program and equipment requirements.
To ensure every AGL maintenance activity is traceable.
Each maintenance record should contain:
The record should allow an engineer to answer:
Master maintenance workflow, quality hold points, the maintenance KPI framework, the master maintenance checklist and the Division 18 golden rule that apply across all 25 procedures.
The following sequence should be applied whenever applicable:
Work shall not proceed past a hold point until the associated inspection or verification has been completed and released.
For a mature AGL maintenance system, track the following indicators — this converts the SOP system from a maintenance checklist into a reliability-management system:
The following items should be confirmed, as applicable, before an AGL maintenance activity is closed out:
“AGL maintenance is not complete when the failed component is replaced. Maintenance is complete only when the defect has been corrected, the installation has been inspected, the required electrical and functional tests have passed, optical performance has been verified where applicable, the work area is FOD-free, the equipment has been safely returned to service, and the complete maintenance history has been recorded.”
Maintenance activities shall be performed under the airport's approved maintenance program, work-permit system, electrical safety/LOTO procedure, equipment manufacturer's instructions and applicable aerodrome requirements.
No maintenance activity shall compromise the operational status of an active runway/taxiway or introduce FOD or electrical hazards — approved airport procedures shall always take precedence.
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 Preventive & Corrective Maintenance SOPs in the AGL SOP Library.
Division 18 is a set of 25 procedures (SOP-368 to SOP-392, Rev 0) for planned and condition-based AGL maintenance and corrective repair. It covers runway, taxiway, approach, PAPI and sign maintenance, CCR and transformer maintenance, cable and connector repair, lamp, LED and driver replacement, cleaning, fixture alignment, maintenance scheduling and record traceability.
Maintenance is performed under the airport's approved maintenance program, work-permit system, electrical safety and LOTO procedure, manufacturer's instructions and applicable aerodrome requirements. No maintenance activity may compromise the operational status of an active runway or taxiway or introduce FOD or electrical hazards.
SOP-368 aims to detect deterioration and correct defects before they cause failure. It starts from the approved preventive-maintenance schedule, work authorization and previous maintenance history, coordinates with Operations/ATC where required, and applies to CCRs, series circuits, cables, transformers, connectors, fixtures, PAPI, signs, ALCMS, earthing and civil interfaces.
Defect identified, defect classification, work order, risk assessment, isolation or permit, repair or replacement, testing, operational verification and close work order (SOP-369). Safety-critical defects are escalated immediately under the airport's approved operational process.
No. Do not repeatedly reset a CCR protection device without determining the cause of the trip (SOP-376). Corrective work follows alarm or fault diagnosis, isolation, repair, test, functional verification and return to service.
Work order number, date and time, location, equipment and circuit IDs, defect description, work performed, parts replaced with old and new component information, technician and reviewer, test and photometry results, before and after photographs where required, equipment status, outstanding defects and return-to-service authorization (SOP-392). It should let an engineer answer what failed, where, when, why and what was done.
Knowing the maintenance procedure is essential. Understanding why preventive intervals are set the way they are, and how to diagnose the root cause behind a corrective repair, takes deeper technical knowledge.
Learn through structured training covering:
Develop the technical foundation to work with AGL systems systematically, safely and confidently.
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