Division 09 follows Division 08 — Approach Lighting System Commissioning — and is specific to the PAPI/APAPI system as an integrated visual approach-slope indicator, not a set of individual light fixtures. It verifies that the system is correctly installed, identified, positioned, mounted, aligned, electrically connected, optically clean, correctly powered, correctly calibrated, and capable of providing the required visual indication and photometric performance before operational acceptance.
Philosophy: a PAPI/APAPI system is evaluated as a complete chain — correct installation → correct geometry → correct beam angles → healthy electrical system → correct optical performance → correct indication → verified alignment → verified calibration → accepted PAPI/APAPI system. A unit can be electrically healthy and illuminate correctly while still requiring rejection because its geometrical alignment, beam-angle setting, indication, or calibration is incorrect. Numerical alignment, elevation, beam-angle, spacing, photometric, and calibration tolerances are safety-critical and are always taken from the approved design, applicable aerodrome criteria, manufacturer's documentation, and the approved calibration procedure.
Every PAPI/APAPI system moves through the same underlying sequence, from installation through to calibrated, indication-verified acceptance.
The PAPI/APAPI system is evaluated as a complete chain — every link has to hold before the system is accepted.
| Link | What It Confirms |
|---|---|
| Correct Installation | The right PAPI/APAPI system, correctly identified, is installed at the correct location per approved design |
| Correct Geometry | Unit spacing, mounting, azimuth and elevation match the approved survey/design information |
| Correct Beam Angles | Each unit's beam-angle setting matches the approved alignment/calibration procedure |
| Healthy Electrical System | Circuit, power supply, cabling and connectors are electrically sound |
| Correct Optical Performance | Optical windows are clean, the light source is verified, and photometric output meets the applicable requirement |
| Correct Indication | The visual indication sequence and colour transition are correct, with no abnormal or dark unit |
| Verified Alignment | Final system-level alignment — azimuth, elevation, spacing and beam angle together — has been confirmed |
| Verified Calibration | Calibration has been demonstrated against approved criteria and recorded, not merely assumed from physical alignment |
Two conditions should be established before commissioning of any PAPI/APAPI system begins.
Grouped by commissioning focus, in the order each PAPI/APAPI system is normally worked through — click any topic to expand its verification checks and acceptance criteria.
Acceptance Criteria: the complete installation — system type, unit count, location, orientation, spacing, elevation, cabling, and power arrangement — corresponds with the approved design.
Acceptance Criteria: every PAPI unit is uniquely identified, traceable, and correctly positioned within the array.
Hold Point: spacing verification must be based on the approved survey/design information, never an assumed generic value.
Acceptance Criteria: each unit is mechanically stable, correctly leveled, and free of loose or damaged mounting hardware.
Hold Point: azimuth is safety-critical — acceptance values are taken from the approved design and calibration procedure, never assumed.
Hold Point: elevation verification is critical because the visual indication depends directly on the geometric relationship between the PAPI beam and the approach path.
Hold Point: beam-angle verification is not a visual alignment exercise — it must be verified using the approved survey/alignment/calibration method.
Hold Point: any optical contamination capable of affecting beam performance is corrected before photometric or calibration acceptance.
Acceptance Criteria: the light source matches the approved design and shows no abnormal or dark condition.
Hold Point: the test method must be compatible with the PAPI electronics — do not apply inappropriate insulation-test voltages to sensitive electronic components.
Acceptance Criteria: the supply remains within the approved operating range during normal operation.
Acceptance Criteria: cabling is continuous, correctly terminated, and free of insulation deterioration or moisture ingress.
Acceptance Criteria: every connector mates correctly, is securely locked and sealed, and is free of corrosion or water ingress.
Acceptance Criteria: the complete PAPI system operates stably with all units correctly illuminated and no intermittent or abnormal behaviour.
Hold Point: the test must demonstrate that the PAPI gives the correct visual guidance indication, not merely that the lamps/LEDs illuminate.
Hold Point: photometric testing must use the approved measurement/calibration method — numerical acceptance limits are never assumed from a generic topic list.
Acceptance Criteria: every individual geometric result combines into a verified, system-level PAPI alignment.
Hold Point: calibration is not complete merely because the unit has been physically aligned — the record must demonstrate the measured/verified condition against approved criteria.
Acceptance Criteria: every installation, optical, electrical, functional, and calibration item is closed before the PAPI/APAPI commissioning report is issued.
Acceptance Criteria: each PAPI/APAPI system has a dedicated, traceable commissioning report — this closes Division 09 and releases the system for operational acceptance.
Division 09 runs as a single continuous sequence per PAPI/APAPI system, from installation and identification through to calibrated, indication-verified acceptance.
Verify the complete installation and identify every unit.
Verify unit spacing and mounting condition.
Verify horizontal orientation and elevation of each unit.
Verify individual unit beam angles against approved procedure.
Inspect optical windows for contamination or damage.
Verify the light source against the approved design.
Test circuit, cable, and connector integrity.
Verify input and output power-supply parameters.
Test operation and verify correct visual indication.
Measure optical performance against approved criteria.
Confirm system-level alignment and calibration record.
Complete acceptance testing and the commissioning report.
Quick answers about Division 09 — PAPI / APAPI Testing & Commissioning in the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual.
Division 09 of the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual covers PAPI / APAPI Testing & Commissioning. Division 09 follows Division 08 — Approach Lighting System Commissioning — and is specific to the PAPI/APAPI system as an integrated visual approach-slope indicator, not a set of individual light fixtures. It verifies that the system is correctly installed, identified, positioned, mounted, aligned, electrically connected, optically clean, correctly powered, correctly calibrated, and capable of providing the required visual indication and photometric performance before operational acceptance. It contains 20 topics (TC-PAPI-001 to TC-PAPI-020) organised into 7 groups (A–G), each topic with its own verification checks.
A PAPI/APAPI system is evaluated as a complete chain — correct installation → correct geometry → correct beam angles → healthy electrical system → correct optical performance → correct indication → verified alignment → verified calibration → accepted PAPI/APAPI system. A unit can be electrically healthy and illuminate correctly while still requiring rejection because its geometrical alignment, beam-angle setting, indication, or calibration is incorrect. Numerical alignment, elevation, beam-angle, spacing, photometric, and calibration tolerances are safety-critical and are always taken from the approved design, applicable aerodrome criteria, manufacturer's documentation, and the approved calibration procedure.
Every PAPI/APAPI system moves through the same underlying sequence, from installation through to calibrated, indication-verified acceptance. Steps: Identify → Verify Geometry → Verify Optical Condition → Test Electrical Integrity → Test Functional Operation → Verify Indication → Test Photometric → Verify Alignment → Verify Calibration → Accept → Report. Focus areas: Installation & geometry; Optical & light source condition; Electrical & power integrity; Functional indication performance; Alignment & calibration verification.
Division 09 has 20 topics in 7 groups. A — Installation & Identification: PAPI Installation Verification, PAPI Unit Identification. B — Geometry & Alignment Setup: PAPI Unit Spacing Verification, PAPI Mounting Verification, PAPI Azimuth Verification, PAPI Elevation Verification, PAPI Beam-Angle Verification. C — Optical & Light Source: PAPI Optical-Window Inspection, PAPI Lamp/LED Verification. D — Electrical & Power: PAPI Electrical Testing, PAPI Power-Supply Testing, PAPI Cable Testing, PAPI Connector Testing. E — Functional & Indication: PAPI Functional Testing, PAPI Indication Verification. F — Photometry, Alignment & Calibration: PAPI Photometric Testing, PAPI Alignment Verification, PAPI Calibration Verification. G — Acceptance & Closeout: PAPI Acceptance Testing, PAPI Commissioning Report.
The PAPI/APAPI system is evaluated as a complete chain — every link has to hold before the system is accepted. Correct Installation: The right PAPI/APAPI system, correctly identified, is installed at the correct location per approved design; Correct Geometry: Unit spacing, mounting, azimuth and elevation match the approved survey/design information; Correct Beam Angles: Each unit's beam-angle setting matches the approved alignment/calibration procedure; Healthy Electrical System: Circuit, power supply, cabling and connectors are electrically sound; Correct Optical Performance: Optical windows are clean, the light source is verified, and photometric output meets the applicable requirement; Correct Indication: The visual indication sequence and colour transition are correct, with no abnormal or dark unit; Verified Alignment: Final system-level alignment — azimuth, elevation, spacing and beam angle together — has been confirmed; Verified Calibration: Calibration has been demonstrated against approved criteria and recorded, not merely assumed from physical alignment.
Two conditions should be established before commissioning of any PAPI/APAPI system begins. Numerical Limits Are Not Universal: Alignment, elevation, beam-angle, unit-spacing, photometric and calibration tolerances are safety-critical; Numerical acceptance values come from the approved PAPI/APAPI design, applicable aerodrome criteria, manufacturer's documentation, and the approved calibration procedure; Spacing verification is based on approved survey/design information — never an assumed generic value; Photometric acceptance limits should never be assumed from this or any generic topic list.
Division boundary: Division 08 covers Approach Lighting System Commissioning; Division 09 follows it and is specific to the PAPI/APAPI system as an integrated visual indicator; Division 05 asks whether the individual fixture operates; Division 09 asks whether the PAPI provides correct visual approach guidance geometry and indication; Division 02 provides the general electrical testing framework; Division 09 applies it specifically to PAPI electronics; A PAPI can be electrically healthy and illuminate correctly while still requiring rejection for geometry, beam-angle, indication, or calibration reasons.
Division 09 runs as a single continuous sequence per PAPI/APAPI system, from installation and identification through to calibrated, indication-verified acceptance. (1) Installation & Identification — Verify the complete installation and identify every unit; (2) Geometry Verification — Verify unit spacing and mounting condition; (3) Azimuth & Elevation — Verify horizontal orientation and elevation of each unit; (4) Beam-Angle Setting — Verify individual unit beam angles against approved procedure; (5) Optical Inspection — Inspect optical windows for contamination or damage; (6) Lamp/LED Verification — Verify the light source against the approved design; (7) Electrical Testing — Test circuit, cable, and connector integrity; (8) Power Supply — Verify input and output power-supply parameters; (9) Functional & Indication — Test operation and verify correct visual indication; (10) Photometric Testing — Measure optical performance against approved criteria; (11) Final Alignment & Calibration — Confirm system-level alignment and calibration record; (12) Acceptance & Report — Complete acceptance testing and the commissioning report.
PAPI/APAPI testing confirms the visual glideslope pilots trust on every approach.
Build the technical knowledge to understand angle setting, light-unit calibration, and beam-transition testing, and how precise alignment translates directly into approach safety.
Test with precision. Calibrate with confidence. Commission with certainty.
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