The consultant's challenge: innovation versus safety [aeronautical ground lighting]

Aeronautical ground lighting (AGL) is, traditionally, bound by rules and regulations and, hence, a prescribed way of doing things exists. For example, runway edge lights shall be placed along the full length of the runway and shall be in two parallel rows equidistant from the centre line. Within this forest of regulations there is probably scope for innovation but it's not always easy to spot. Implementing change is often a slow process and, therefore, costly. The answer may be in something as pedestrian as risk assessments. The author describes how BAE Systems started looking at the risk assessments used to meet the CDM regulations and a new IEC work item proposal on safety life-cycle requirements for AGL. Using these BAE began to develop a framework of processes and procedures that can be applied throughout the life cycle of the AGL system.