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Runway Lighting Audit Checklist

By Josh Turly on June 29, 2026

A runway lighting audit checklist reviews circuit continuity, fixture condition, alignment, and control system response for every lighting category on the airfield — approach, threshold, edge, centerline, touchdown zone, taxiway, and stop bar — so that night operations and low-visibility procedures always have a verified visual guidance path. A single inoperative or misaligned fixture in a critical zone is a NOTAM event; a pattern of failures across a circuit is an airside safety issue. Sign Up Free on Oxmaint to log runway lighting audit findings against each circuit and fixture asset across your airfield. Book a Demo to see how Oxmaint tracks lighting inspection status, routes circuit faults to assigned electricians, and maintains an audit-ready compliance record across your full airfield lighting infrastructure.

Keep Your Airfield Lighting Audit-Ready and Defect-Free Log runway lighting findings against each circuit and fixture, and route faults to assigned electricians before a NOTAM is required.

1. Runway Edge & Centerline Fixture Inspection

Walk the runway or conduct a vehicle inspection pass to confirm each edge and centerline fixture is operational, undamaged, and seated correctly in its housing.

Check All Edge Light Fixtures for Illumination During Night or Low-Vis Inspection Verify each runway edge light illuminates at the correct intensity and color for its position, flagging any dark, dim, or color-incorrect fixture for immediate corrective action before the next night movement period.

Inspect Centerline Light Inserts for Cracks, Lens Damage, or Moisture Ingress Check inset centerline light covers for cracking, lens discoloration, and moisture inside the fixture housing — compromised lenses reduce output intensity and accelerate internal component corrosion.

Confirm Touchdown Zone Lights Are Functioning Symmetrically on Both Sides Verify touchdown zone light bars on both runway sides illuminate symmetrically and at the correct intensity step, since asymmetric output creates a misleading visual reference during the final approach phase.

Log Fixture-Level Findings Against the Airfield Asset Record in Oxmaint Sign Up Free to log fixture inspection findings against the individual airfield asset record in Oxmaint, creating a fault history at the fixture level that supports both maintenance prioritization and regulatory audit documentation.

2. Approach & Threshold Lighting Checks

Approach and threshold lighting is the first visual guidance system a crew sees — any gap here affects procedure availability for the entire runway end.

Verify Approach Light System Operates at All Required Intensity Steps Test the approach light system through each intensity step from the airfield lighting control panel, confirming the system responds correctly to each setting without partial circuit failure or step skipping.

Check Threshold Lights for Correct Color and Full Bar Illumination Confirm all threshold light fixtures illuminate at the correct green color with no mixed or white fixtures visible from the approach direction, and verify the full bar width illuminates without gaps caused by failed inserts.

Inspect Approach Light Structures for Physical Damage or Corrosion Check approach light mast bases, crossbar fittings, and wiring conduit runs for corrosion, impact damage, bird nesting, or fastener loss that could affect structural stability or wire protection integrity.

3. Circuit Continuity & Electrical System Checks

Circuit faults are invisible from a visual walk — electrical checks confirm the system delivering power to every fixture is intact.

Test Series Circuit Continuity for Each Airfield Lighting Circuit Measure circuit continuity for each constant current regulator circuit feeding runway and taxiway lighting, confirming no open or high-resistance fault points that would cause a partial circuit outage under load.

Check Constant Current Regulator Output Against Design Specifications Verify each CCR delivers the correct output current at each brightness step, since a drifting regulator causes progressive intensity degradation across the entire circuit it feeds without triggering an obvious single-fixture fault.

Inspect Isolation Transformer Vaults and Cable Entries for Water Ingress Open isolation transformer access points and check for standing water, condensation pooling, or cable entry seal failure that would compromise insulation resistance and create a progressive circuit fault condition.

Route Circuit Faults to a Work Order With NOTAM Status Flagged Book a Demo to see how Oxmaint routes airfield lighting circuit faults to a corrective work order with a NOTAM status flag, giving airside operations and maintenance teams a shared real-time view of which circuits are active, degraded, or out of service.

4. Taxiway, Stop Bar & Guidance Sign Lighting

Taxiway lighting errors cause runway incursions — confirm stop bars, lead-on/off lights, and guidance signs are fully operational before night ops begin.

Verify Stop Bar Lights Illuminate and Extinguish Correctly With ATC Control Coordinate with the control tower to confirm each stop bar illuminates fully on activation and extinguishes completely on clearance, with no fixtures remaining lit or dark that could create an ambiguous hold position signal.

Check Taxiway Edge and Centerline Light Colors for Correct Zone Coding Confirm taxiway centerline lights display the correct color coding through lead-on, lead-off, runway hold, and taxiway segments — color errors in these zones directly affect pilot situational awareness during low-visibility operations.

Inspect Guidance Sign Illumination and Panel Legibility Across All Taxiways Check that all mandatory instruction and location guidance signs illuminate correctly at night intensity, with no failed lamps creating dark panels or partially legible sign faces that could confuse taxiing crews.

5. Alignment Verification & Visual Aids Check

Fixtures that are operational but misaligned still fail their purpose — include a physical alignment check in every audit cycle.

Verify Inset Fixture Alignment Has Not Shifted Due to Pavement Movement or FOD Strike Check inset edge and centerline fixtures for rotational misalignment caused by pavement cracking, frost heave, or FOD impact — a misaligned inset light changes the visual cue angle and may not be detected until a pilot report.

Confirm PAPI or VASIS Alignment Matches Published Glidepath Angle Verify PAPI or VASIS units are set to the published glidepath angle and display a correct all-white or all-red transition at the design threshold height when checked from the runway threshold direction.

Track Alignment Findings and Audit Completion Across All Airfield Circuits Sign Up Free on Oxmaint to track alignment findings and full audit completion status across every airfield lighting circuit, giving airside management an audit-ready compliance record that covers both regulatory requirements and operational safety reviews.

Maintain a Verified, Audit-Ready Airfield Lighting Record Oxmaint logs runway lighting audit findings, routes circuit faults to work orders, and tracks compliance status across every airfield zone.

Frequently Asked Questions — Runway Lighting Audit

1. What does a runway lighting audit checklist cover?

It covers runway edge, centerline, touchdown zone, approach, and threshold fixture condition, circuit continuity checks, taxiway and stop bar lighting verification, alignment of inset fixtures, and PAPI or VASIS glidepath confirmation.

2. How often should airfield lighting audits be conducted?

Regulatory requirements and ICAO guidance typically call for daily inspection of operational lighting before night operations, with more detailed circuit and alignment checks at monthly and annual intervals depending on airport category.

3. What triggers a NOTAM for runway lighting?

Any failure that reduces the usability of an instrument procedure, degrades a required lighting category, or affects stop bar function in low-visibility operations typically requires a NOTAM until the fault is rectified and the circuit verified.

4. How does Oxmaint support runway lighting audit management?

Oxmaint logs fixture and circuit findings against each airfield asset, routes faults to corrective work orders with NOTAM status flags, and maintains a timestamped audit record that supports both regulatory compliance and internal safety review.

5. Can airfield lighting audit records be tracked across multiple runways?

Yes — Oxmaint tracks audit completion status, open defects, and service history across every runway, taxiway, and approach lighting circuit in the airfield, giving airside management a single compliance view across the full infrastructure.

Ready to Make Airfield Lighting Audits Traceable and Compliant? Oxmaint connects circuit asset records, inspection findings, and corrective work orders into one view for your airside maintenance team.