What is the asset lifecycle?
The whole life of an AGL asset — from the decision to buy it, through years of service, to renewal or retirement.
Every AGL asset, whether a fixture, cable, transformer or constant current regulator (CCR), passes through the same stages: it is planned, acquired, installed, operated and finally renewed or retired. Seeing the whole life matters because early choices, such as the design, the product and the installation quality, shape how much the asset costs to run and how reliably it performs.
Records follow the asset from the start: its register entry, test results, inspections, repairs, warranty and spares. They give the facts for each later decision to repair, refurbish, upgrade or replace. When an asset is replaced, the old one is decommissioned and disposed of or recycled, and a new cycle begins.
- Plan. Define the need and budget, and record the asset in the register.
- Acquire. Design to the standard, specify and procure, and check on delivery.
- Install. Install, test, commission and hand over to the owner.
- Operate. Run, inspect, maintain and monitor the asset's health.
- Renew or retire. Repair, refurbish, upgrade or replace; decommission and dispose.
- Record. Keep the asset's data, warranty and spares information up to date throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is the asset lifecycle in airfield ground lighting?
The whole life of an AGL asset, such as a fixture, cable, transformer or constant current regulator (CCR), from the first decision to buy it to its disposal. It covers planning, design and procurement, installation and commissioning, operation and maintenance, and renewal or retirement.
Q2What are the main stages of the lifecycle?
Plan, acquire, install, operate, and renew or retire. Each stage has its own work, such as design, procurement, testing, inspection, repair, upgrade or replacement, and each hands records and decisions on to the next.
Q3Why look at the whole life and not just the purchase?
Buying is only part of the cost. Installation, energy, inspection, maintenance, spares, repairs and eventual replacement often add up to more than the purchase price, so choices made early shape cost and reliability for many years.
Q4How long does an AGL asset last?
It depends on the asset type, the environment, how often it is used and how well it is maintained. Owners plan renewal from condition and performance records and the manufacturer's guidance, not from one fixed figure.
Q5What records follow an asset through its life?
An asset register entry, drawings and data sheets, test and commissioning results, inspection and maintenance history, failure and repair records, warranty details and spare parts information, so decisions rest on facts.
Q6What happens when an asset reaches the end of its life?
It is repaired, refurbished, upgraded or replaced when that is justified by condition, risk and cost. A retired asset is decommissioned safely, then disposed of or recycled, and replacing it starts a new cycle.
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