Airfield Operations

Lesson Aims & Outcomes

Compare the Describe the
inspection procedures for
English – requirements of a inspecting runway
Learners will use speaking and major airport with surfaces
listening and research skills to source those for a GA
airfield
information to present to peers.

Describe the procedures for

inspecting airfield lighting
RECAP learning so far…

P4- Describe the monitoring requirements of aircraft parking

P5- Describe the requirements to control the movement of vehicles within the airfield
environment

P6- Describe the requirements to control the movement of vehicles within the airfield

P7- Describe the information requirements of flight crew

P8- Describe the information requirements of ground crew

P9- Explain how information regarding airfield operations is communicated.

P10 Runway Surface Inspection Procedures
• Why do airfields need to be inspected?

• What could happen if they were not inspected?

• CAP 168- Licensing of Aerodromes

The CAA requires airports to have policy in place for carrying out
inspections. This should include the nature of the report, frequency of
inspections and reporting procedures.
What are they looking
for during a runway
surface inspection?
Focus of inspection – looking at….
• Surface – inspectors look for cracks, displacement, flooding, snow/ice covered, FOD.

• Edges – inspectors look for crumbling edges, blocked drains and damaged facilities
such as signs, guidelines, lightings etc.

• Markings – centre lines, touchdown markers, lead off lines.

• Work in Progress – Infringing runway safety areas

• Wildlife – especially birds.

 Runway Surface
Inspection Regime
• ROUTINE – (daily, twice daily complete surface check)
• DETAILED – (Detailed inspection of a limited area) – beginning of
the runway that is not used often.
• MANAGEMENT INSPECTION – ‘double checking’ that the runway is
safe.
• SPECIAL – (following up a report of a suspected problem)

Look at Bournemouth Airports inspection and reporting programme.

• How often do they carry out inspections?
• What areas are being inspected?
• How are deficiencies reported?

https://www.bournemouthairport.com/content/uploads/AOI-02-Movement-Area-Inspection-and
-Reporting.pdf
ACTIVITY
You will need these to create a poster for P10

Find an image of the below runway areas:

• Runway edging including drainage and signage

• Runway markings including centreline, touchdown markings and

lead off lines

• Work in progress signs and barriers on the runway/taxiways

Airport Surface Markings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0uyvuLIIdeg
Airport Sign
and Marking
Airfield Runway Inspections
P10-Describe the procedures for inspecting runway surfaces

Reference to CAP 168 licensing of aerodromes

• Runway surface inspection regime (give examples e.g.

Bournemouth)
• Focus of inspections - describe what the focus is and why these
need to be addressed
• Images of for example
• Runway edging including drainage and signage
• Runway markings including centreline, touchdown markings and
lead off lines
• Work in progress signs and barriers on the runway/taxiways
P11 Airfield Lighting
Inspection Procedures

• INSPECTION REGIME – routine inspections are

completed daily and before sunset. Special
inspections could be done to follow up any
faults that have been reported.

• FOCUS OF INSPECTION – Approach lighting

systems, taxiway lights, runway centre line light
(white lights) runway edge lights.

• CHECKS THAT ARE TAKEN – functionality – do

the lights work? How bright are lights? Are the
lenses clean?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xM-Y245kUo
MALMS Torque – Lighting Inspection
Tool
https://youtu.be/Sbr8tQYKjAE

• 'M-Torque' is a airfield lighting inspection and maintenance tool that supports

compliance with international standards. M-Torque incorporates a work scheduling
and reporting tool that may be operated independently or integrated with an airports
asset management system.
• M-Torque has been developed following a number of incidents where lights have
become dislodged through loosening of the retaining bolts or studs as the result of
vibration or negative air pressure from passing aircraft.
• Adopting M-Torque will provide airport's with the assurance that all their light
fittings are being inspected and maintained in compliance with airport regulations
per ICAO annex 14 of the Convention on international airports
 Airfield Lighting Inspections
P11- Describe the procedures for inspecting airfield lighting

• Airfield Lighting inspection procedures (regime, focus of inspection and

checks)
• Role of the airfield safety officer in runway surface and lighting inspections
• Reference to CAP 637
• Identify the following lighting using images:
• Approach lighting systems (M2 ext)
• Runway centreline lights
• Runway edge lights
• Taxiway lighting
CAP 637 Visual Aids Handbook.
A compendium intended to explain in general terms the
purpose of visual aids employed at UK licensed airports.
Covers lighting, surface markings, signs and signals.
Intended for the guidance of pilots and personnel
engaged in the handling of aircraft
 Airfield Runway & Lighting Inspections
P10-Describe the procedures for inspecting P11- Describe the procedures for inspecting
runway surfaces airfield lighting
• Reference to CAP 168 licensing of aerodromes • Airfield Lighting inspection procedures
• Runway surface inspection regime (give (regime, focus of inspection and checks)
examples e.g. Bournemouth) • Role of the airfield safety officer in
• Focus of inspections - describe what the focus runway surface and lighting inspections
is and why these need to be addressed • Reference to CAP 637
• Images of: • Identify the following lighting using
• Runway edging including drainage and images:
signage • Approach lighting systems (M2 ext)
• Runway markings including centreline, • Runway centreline lights
touchdown markings and
M2 EXT- Include information lead off lines • Runway
CAP 637 edge
Visual Aids lights
Handbook.
• Work in progress
about the signs and barriers
different approach on the • Taxiway
A compendium intended to explain lighting
in general terms the purpose of visual aids
runway/taxiways
lighting systems for 2
employed at UK licensed airports.
different airport types ,
Covers lighting, surface markings, signs and signals.
major airport vs general
Intended for the guidance of pilots and personnel engaged in the handling of
aviation airfield
aircraft
RECAP
• What is the focus of runway inspections?

• Why is it important to inspect runway lighting?

• What types of inspection regimes are there?