ABSTRACT
Programmes for whole new aircraft, engines or re-engineering within the aircraft industry are individually big enough to make or break even the biggest companies or corporations. Thus the management of these programmes has to ensure that they deliver the expected benefits on time and within the expected development cost. The top tier of civil aerospace market is driven by two principal considerations: performance and time-to-market. The market is extremely competitive between a few major players. Risk management is a critical feature in the way programmes are conceived, activities are prioritized, and outcomes are measured. The aerospace industry is very highly regulated for obvious reasons of safety and the potential impact of an airborne failure of design, operation or maintenance. Fundamental to safe operation of air transportation of passengers or cargo is the safety of the design. This is assured through independent certification of the design as being safe to operate within the regime specified in the operational instructions and limitations.
