Managing Airfield Lighting Assets the Smart Way

In the aviation industry, visibility, reliability, and safety are non-negotiable. Every aircraft movement—during day, night, or low-visibility conditions—depends on the flawless performance of airfield lighting systems. From runway edge lights and approach lighting to taxiway and apron illumination, these assets are fundamental to safe airport operations. Managing them effectively is not just a maintenance task—it’s a safety-critical responsibility.

What Is Airfield Lighting Asset Management?

Airfield lighting asset management refers to the structured tracking, maintenance, and oversight of all lighting infrastructure across the airfield. This includes monitoring asset location, condition, usage hours, maintenance history, and compliance status to ensure continuous operational readiness.

Why It Matters in Aviation

Ensuring Operational Safety
Reliable airfield lighting is essential for pilot guidance and situational awareness. Any failure can increase operational risk, especially during night operations or adverse weather conditions.

Supporting Regulatory Compliance
Aviation authorities require strict documentation of inspections, maintenance, and fault rectifications. A centralized system ensures lighting assets remain compliant with ICAO, FAA, and local regulatory standards.

Reducing Downtime and Disruptions
Unplanned lighting failures can lead to runway restrictions or closures. Proactive asset management minimises outages and keeps airfield operations running smoothly.

Optimising Maintenance and Costs
By tracking asset performance and lamp life cycles, airports can avoid emergency repairs, reduce maintenance costs, and make informed decisions about upgrades such as LED transitions.

Common Airfield Lighting Management Workflows

Asset Registration and Visibility
All lighting assets are logged with details such as type, location, specifications, and installation dates.

Inspections and Condition Monitoring
Routine and ad hoc inspections capture real-time asset condition and identify faults early.

Maintenance and Work Orders
Issues are converted into tasks or work orders, ensuring timely repairs and preventive maintenance.

Documentation and Reporting
Every activity is recorded, creating a complete audit trail for compliance and operational review.

Best Practices for Managing Airfield Lighting

Adopt Digital Asset Management Systems
Move away from spreadsheets and manual logs by using a centralised, all-in-one airport operations platform to manage lighting assets alongside other airfield operations.

Shift to Preventive Maintenance
Use usage data and historical trends to plan maintenance before failures occur.

Enable Mobile Access
Allow technicians to update inspections and maintenance records directly from the airfield for real-time accuracy.

Integrate with Maintenance Workflows
Link lighting assets with an underlined work order management software to streamline coordination between operations, electrical, and maintenance teams.

Maintain Audit-Ready Records

Ensure all inspections, repairs, and replacements are documented and easily retrievable.

How Aerosimple Makes It Work

Aerosimple’s Airfield Lighting Management capabilities provide airports with a structured, digital approach to managing critical lighting assets. All airfield lights are centralised within the system, giving teams complete visibility into asset status, maintenance history, and compliance requirements.

Inspections and maintenance activities are seamlessly tied into Aerosimple’s workflows, enabling teams to generate and track work orders, schedule preventive maintenance, and document fault rectifications in real time. Every action is logged automatically, creating a transparent and audit-ready record.

Whether implemented as part of an underlined CMMS system for airports or integrated within broader airfield operations, Aerosimple ensures lighting assets are managed proactively rather than reactively.

By improving visibility, reducing failures, and supporting regulatory compliance, Aerosimple helps airports maintain safer runways, minimise disruptions, and manage airfield lighting assets in a smarter, more efficient way.

Discover how Aerosimple’s Airfield Lighting Management simplifies compliance, reduces manual effort, and enhances airfield safety. Get full visibility, automated workflows, and audit-ready records in one platform. Click here to schedule a demo and explore the platform with a 30-day trial.

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