1.1 General Information
1.1.1 Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) provides flight crew with location, orientation and alignment information in adverse visibility conditions and at night. Table 6.1 outlines the minimum prescribed scales of AGL needed in order to satisfy the aerodrome licensing requirement in respect of low visibility and night operations; it also highlights those elements of AGL equipment considered by the CAA to be operationally desirable for a particular operation. The type of lighting is specified according to the runway approach category and take-off (T/O) minima. Where the prescribed scale cannot be provided for an instrument runway, there may be a consequential penalty on operational minima (UK AIP AD 1.1.2 Aerodrome Operating Minima, paragraphs 4.2 to 4.5.2). The components, listed in Table 6.1, are described in the succeeding paragraphs in the order in which they will be seen by a pilot approaching an aerodrome. The characteristics of the lights and their overall height limits are detailed in Appendix 6A.
1.1.2 AGL for precision instrument approach runways should be high intensity so that it is usable by day and night. Low intensity may be used for other runways, but high intensity lighting is strongly recommended for non-precision instrument approaches and should be provided where there are public transport passenger operations.
1.1.3 AGL requirements for Lower than Standard Category I and Other than Standard
Category II approach operations can be found in EU-OPS.
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R = Required, O = Operationally desirable, C/L = Centreline, HI = High Intensity, LI = Low Intensity, NP = Non Precision, App = Approach
NOTES:
1 May not be required where aerodrome used by day only and high intensity runway edge lighting installed, or when used at night in good visibility, or when sufficient guidance is provided by other visual aids. Where, at an aerodrome licensed for night use, the direction of approach is not evident from the configuration of the approach and runway lighting, an illuminated white landing T as described in Chapter 7, paragraph 2.4, should be provided either in the signals square or adjacent to the runway.
Table 6.1 Aeronautical Ground Lighting - Minimum Licensing Requirements Day or Night Operations Night Only Operations Notes Text
Ref App Cat II & III T/O RVR <400 App Cat I T/O RVR 400– 800 App N/P Instru ment T/O RVR 800 - 1200 App Non- Instru ment T/O >1200
Equipment Scale L1 Scale L2 Scale L3 Scale L4
Aerodrome Beacon O - R - R - R - Para 2
Approach Para 3 HI C/L 5-bars R - R - - - - - Supplementary R - - - - Simple - - - - R - O - 1 Sequenced strobe - - - - Approach Slope Para 4 PAPI R - R - O - - - 2 HI APAPI - - - - R - O - 2 LI APAPI - - - R - 2, 4 Runway Paras 1.1.2 and 5 HI edge, threshold, end R R R R R O - -
LI edge, threshold, end - - - R R R 3, 4
HI C/L R R O O - - - - Touchdown zone R - O - - - - - Stopway R R R R R R R R Taxiway Centreline R R O O - - - - Para 6 Edge - - R R R R O O 4, 5 Illuminated Signs R R R R R R O O Stop bars R R R R - - - - Runway Guard R R R R R R - - Obstacle R R R R R R R R 6 Chap 4 Para 12
Alternate Input Power Supply R R R R O O O O Para10 Illuminated Wind Sleeve R R R R R R R R Chap 7 Para 2.3.4 April 2011
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2 At aerodromes used by day only, by public transport aeroplanes carrying passengers on scheduled journeys or by public transport aeroplanes exceeding 5700 kg MTWA carrying passengers on other than scheduled journeys, the runway most frequently used, whether paved or unpaved, should be equipped with visual approach slope guidance. All runways used for public transport passenger operations should be equipped with PAPI.
3 Electric runway edge lighting should be provided for all operations by public transport aeroplanes carrying passengers on scheduled journeys or by public transport aeroplanes exceeding 5700 kg MTWA carrying passengers on other than scheduled journeys. Paraffin flares may be used for runway edge lighting in Scale L4 for other operations.
4 Low intensity systems are suitable only for night time use.
5 Not normally required where HI C/L provided. Chapter 6, paragraph 6.1.2, refers. 6 Runway Guard Lights are required for take-off in RVR < 1200 m day or night.
1.1.4 A luminous intensity control system is required for all high intensity lighting (see paragraph 9). It will also be needed in most cases for low intensity APAPI.
1.1.5 These requirements are derived from the Standards and Recommended Practices
detailed in ICAO Annex 14 and are intended to cater for the full range of operations that might reasonably be expected at a particular aerodrome. They should not be confused with the minimum requirements for specific aeroplane operations as described in other documents such as EU–OPS (Subpart P) and CAP 768.
1.1.6 Any proposed modification to an AGL system or any work that requires the approval of the CAA (under the terms of the Aerodrome Licence) should be notified to the Aerodrome Standards Department.
1.1.7 Additional guidance on the purpose and significance of AGL may be found in the
Visual Aids Handbook, CAP 637.
1.2 Periods of Display of Aeronautical Ground Lighting
1.2.1 Aeronautical ground lighting should be displayed at least 15 minutes before the
estimated time of arrival of any aircraft and until at least 15 minutes after the actual time of departure of any aircraft as follows:
1.2.2 Aerodrome beacons and obstacle lighting should be displayed at night whenever the aerodrome is available for use.
1.3 Dangerous and Confusing Lights
1.3.1 The Air Navigation Order provides that a person shall not exhibit in the UK any light which is liable to endanger aircraft taking-off or landing or which is liable to be mistaken for an aeronautical light.
1.3.2 A light may endanger aircraft when:
a) the intensity causes glare in the direction of an approaching aircraft;
b) the colour (e.g. advertising signs) causes it to be mistaken for an aeronautical light; c) viewed from the air, lights make a pattern (e.g. a row of street lights) similar to an
approach or runway lighting pattern;
d) the overall amount of illumination near the approach to a runway detracts from the effectiveness of the AGL, particularly in poor visibility.
By day: High intensity systems, where installed on the runway to be used, whenever the visibility is less than 5 km and/or the cloud base is less than 700 ft.
By night: Irrespective of weather conditions.
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1.3.3 Lasers are a source of special concern because even brief exposure to the light from such devices can cause temporary blindness. Guidance on the use of lasers with regard to aviation safety has been produced by the CAA and is contained in CAP 736 Guide for the Operation of Lasers, Searchlights and Fireworks in United Kingdom Airspace.
1.3.4 The licence holder should ensure that arrangements exist whereby Local Planning
Authorities may receive appropriate advice about the lighting implications of Planning Applications before such Applications are determined.
Particular attention should be paid to lights in the following areas: a) For instrument approach runways
A rectangular area 750 m on each side of the centreline and extended centreline of the runway extending to a distance of 4500 m before the threshold.
b) For non-instrument runways
An area 220 m wide equally disposed about the centreline of the runway and increasing in width along the extended centreline from 220 m at the threshold to 950 m wide at a distance of 3000 m from the threshold.
1.4 AGL for Helicopter Night Landing Training
1.4.1 Where helicopter night landing training is conducted at an aerodrome, a 6 light
proportional T (see Figure 6.1) may be provided. The lights of the proportional T should be omni-directional, white and useable from a distance of 4 nm.
1.4.2 When positioned on an aerodrome with a fixed wing runway also in use, the
proportional T should be sited so as to permit safe parallel approaches, to avoid obstructions and to minimise noise nuisance.
1.4.3 If provided, a proportional T must be notified to the CAA and included in the
Permission to display AGL. Procedures for the use of the proportional T should be included in the Aerodrome Manual.
NOTE: It is recommended that the dimension x should be 10 m.
Figure 6.1 Proportional T
x
x
x
x
x
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2
Aerodrome Beacon
2.1 An Aerodrome Beacon is intended to assist pilots in locating and/or identifying an aerodrome at night and should be provided at all aerodromes licensed for night operations except where the CAA considers such provision unnecessary.
2.2 Exemption from the requirement at paragraph 2.1 above will be assessed according
to the type of operations conducted at the aerodrome, the conspicuity of the AGL pattern in relation to background lighting patterns and levels, and the availability of other aids with which to locate the aerodrome at night. As a general principle, an Aerodrome Beacon is required at an aerodrome where visual approaches are conducted at night or where night flying training is carried out. However, at major aerodromes located in a Control Zone where aircraft are positioned using radio navigation aids and ATC procedures are in force, the requirement may be waived if the CAA is satisfied that there can be no possibility of confusion with other aerodromes nearby.
2.3 The characteristics of Aerodrome Beacons are described at Appendix 6A, paragraph
2; there are two main categories as follows:
a) Identification Beacon – An Identification Beacon is intended for use where aerodromes in the same vicinity operate at night and confusion could arise as to the identity of the airfield in question. The beacon flashes a two letter morse code symbol in green identifying the airfield.
b) Location Beacon – A Location Beacon is intended for use at aerodromes where the local terrain or the pattern and level of background lighting is such that it might be difficult for a pilot to identify the AGL pattern when outside the circuit area but where no other airfield operates in the same vicinity at night. There are two types of Location Beacon.
i) Location Beacon Pattern 'A' – a beacon flashing alternately green and white. A Pattern 'A' Location Beacon is intended for use in those geographic areas where high background light levels persist (such as urban areas).
ii) Location Beacon Pattern 'B' – a white flashing light. A Pattern 'B' Location Beacon is intended for use in those geographic areas where low background light levels are found.
2.4 The type of Aerodrome Beacon and any associated morse code symbol to be
provided at an aerodrome will be determined by the CAA. However, where a requirement for an Aerodrome Location Beacon is determined, the aerodrome may provide instead, an Aerodrome Identification Beacon.
2.5 An Aerodrome Beacon should be situated on a part of the aerodrome where the level
of local background lighting is low and so that it is visible from all directions of approach. The site chosen should be such that the beacon will not cause a hazard by impairing the vision of flight and ground crews engaged in carrying out their duties nor cause any interference with other visual or radio aids.