Airport as DeFI Operator

Lublin Airport Case Study

The first airport in Poland with in-house capabilities for drone-based PAPI calibration and navigation lighting inspection.

Challenge

Regional airports face a common dilemma: how to ensure regular PAPI maintenance in line with ICAO requirements without depending on external service providers? Every lamp adjustment requires verification, and waiting for an available slot from a flight inspection provider can take weeks.

Solution

Lublin Airport decided to implement Airotec DeFI as their own preventive maintenance tool. The deployment included a DeFI software license, a DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise drone, and training for two operational duty officers in system operation and measurement analysis.

Result

Lublin gained full independence in PAPI calibration and visual assessment of airport lighting – approach, runway, and taxiway lights. The airport can now:

• Conduct inspections in any convenient operational window, without waiting for an external contractor
• Immediately verify adjustment results after each intervention – e.g., when a lamp is damaged by airfield equipment
• Document PAPI system status for audits and certification as evidence of due diligence in maintenance
• Keep competencies within the organization, eliminating dependency on external specialists’ availability

Want to deploy DeFI at your airport?

Contact us to learn how to become a DeFI operator and gain independence in PAPI calibration.