Do you really think they'll just screw one to the wingtip without regard to anything?

I've got a video recorder smaller than my palm so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that you could stick a tiny one inside the nav light fairing, for example, bearing in mind you only need a cable and a lens with all the other gubbins elsewhere.

Do you really believe that an aircraft certified camera would be only $45?

I wouldn't say it's impossible ...

Given the fact that its only used during ground operations, I don't see the difference between Wingtip cameras and the ones at the back of my Suzuki.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

What about those proximity sensors they have on cars, surely that would be the way to go. Can be installed flush onto the wing surface and could give pilots a warning if they were getting too close to an object.

By the time the cost of mounting the cameras in two wingtips (with due regard for aerodynamics etc) and the cost of putting in the wiring (specced to run somewhere near wing fuel tanks) is considered, it would be a LOT more than $45.

Against that though I guess the costs of delays asking for wing walkers or, worse, the cost of actual accidents needs to be factored in. Especially in planes where the wing tips cannot be seen from the flight deck windows it might still make economic sense.

Wingtip Cameras : a serious conideration on the A380,I was told but if installing them as part of the design would have be relatively inexpensive (e.g. as part of the nav lights wiring ) retrofitting is a totally new ball game and pricetag.

ATC in apron, for info in most large airports today, the Apron control is not done by ATC anylonger , but by a separate (read much cheaper) airport subcontractor ,
Normally procedure do exist that after receiving a gate or push back clearance, if you encounter a problem and need to stop during the manoeuvre you have to inform Ground control. But incidents reports show that this is rarely done , because when this happen , there is generally a problem that requires the CREW attention.

As to the "responsibility " side of things the guy that hits something with 4 stripes on his shoulders is the one.
Follow me's , parking lamps marshaller or ground control errors will get you extenuating circumstances but not much more.

^^
Totally agree.

PS The old Mk1 eyeball is FOC :}

Possibly this can be brought to the attention of (some) ATC in a certain, very aviation-developed large nation, who if you hesitate for a moment regarding their instructions, or even question them, will shriek, rant and rave over the airwaves about how you are holding up their plan.

Just speaking from experience .....