Measurement of PAPI unit elevation setting angle - PACπ system

French and international regulations require PAPI units elevation setting angles to be periodically checked. French technical guide on airfield lighting maintenance details the various applicable methods to achieve this goal: flight-checking, lift platform or alidade method. The first two methods are required for the initial operation and for any five-yearly check of PAPI units but they are particularly time-consuming and costly.
Newly emerged and more advantageous technologies allowing to perform these checks need to be assessed and validated by the supervisory Authority.