Advisory Circulars

Provides guidelines for operational safety on airports during construction. Principal changes include prohibiting construction in safety areas when associated runway or taxiway is open, providing guidance for incorporating safety risk management, and including checklists for writing Construction Safety and Phasing Plans (CSPP) and for daily inspections.

Provides guidance, specifications, and standards for painting, marking, and lighting of ground vehicles operating in the airport air operations area (AOA). The approved lights, colors, and markings described in the AC assure the conspicuity of vehicles operating in the AOA from both the ground and the air. The AC contains new specifications and recommendations for the painting, marking, and lighting of Towbarless Tow Vehicles (TLTVs).

This AC contains minimum performance specifications for systems and equipment airports use to provide a warning to drivers on an airfield about a potential runway incursion. This AC discusses two types of detection systems: a preconfigured, commercial off the shelf (COTS) system; and a system with custom hardware and software.

Contains the FAA standards for the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) systems, which provides pilots with visual glideslope guidance during approach for landing.

See also--

• Engineering Briefs
• National Airspace System Standards
• Notice to Manufacturers of Airport Lighting and Navigation Aid Equipment about AIP Buy American Requirement (12/19/2011). The FAA is requesting information to determine if waivers to this requirement are needed.

Provides guidance for conducting predesign, prebid, and preconstruction conferences for projects funded under the FAA airport grant program. This version adds quality acceptance as a topic of discussion for the preconstruction conference, items to be addressed in the engineer’s report, details about what should be included in the phasing plan, and discussion of construction management plans.

This AC contains the specifications for airport light bases, transformer housings, junction boxes, and accessories. This AC is not intended to be a compilation of currently available product designs. It provides the basic standard requirements for critical dimensions and performance requirements to which all manufacturers must demonstrate compliance.

Contains equipment specifications for light beacons that are used to locate and identify civil airports, military airports, seaplane bases, and heliports.

Contains a specification for constant current regulators (CCR) and a monitor for use with airport lighting circuits.

See also Engineering Brief 67, Light Sources Other than Incandescent and Xenon for Airport and Obstruction Lighting Fixtures.

Contains the specifications for discharge-type flashing light equipment to be used for runway end identification lights (REIL) and for an omni-directional approach lighting system (ODALS).

See also Notice to Manufacturers of Airport Lighting and Navigation Aid Equipment about AIP Buy American Requirement (12/19/2011). The FAA is requesting information to determine if waivers to this requirement are needed.

Provides the specified manufacturing requirements for panels used for remote control of airport lighting and auxiliary systems.

Contains the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards for retroreflective markers for airport runways and taxiways. Version D changes Paragraph 3.4.2.2, Cylindrical Markers, to increase the marker diameter and surface area, and Paragraph 3.4.3.1, Mounting System, to clarify Type II marker mounting and tethering requirements.

Effective six months after the issue date of this AC, only equipment qualified per these specifications will be listed in AC 150/5345-53, Airport Lighting Equipment Certification Program.

Contains the FAA standards for power and control units for land and hold short lighting systems.

Specifies the minimum requirements for an Airport Lighting Control and Monitoring System (ALCMS). The ALCMS simplifies the control and monitoring of lighted visual aids and enhances airport safety. The basic function of the system remains the same whether for a general aviation airport that supports only a few operations in a day or a large commercial airport which caters to hundreds of operations on any given day.

This specification sets forth the FAA requirements for obstruction lighting equipment used to increase conspicuity of structures to permit early obstruction recognition by pilots.

Contains FAA specifications for in-pavement and elevated light fixtures used on airport runways and taxiways, including Runway Status Lights (RWSL), Takeoff Hold Lights (THL), Runway Intersection Lights (RIL), and Runway Entrance Lights (REL). See also--

• Engineering Brief 67: Light Sources Other than Incandescent and Xenon for Airport and Obstruction Lighting Fixtures
• Waiver to Buy American Preference Requirements for Certain LED Airfield Lighting and Navigational Aid Equipment (4/23/2012)