PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 

COMMISSION AGENDA              Item No.      6g
Date of Meeting        May 4, 2010
DATE:   April 27, 2010
TO:     Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
FROM:   Michael Ehl, Director Aviation Operations
Peter Garlock, Chief Information Officer
SUBJECT: Flight Information Management System (FIMS) Upgrade  CIP# C-101117 
REQUESTED AMOUNT: $5,400,000  SOURCE OF FUNDS: Airport Development
Fund 
SALES TAX: $170,000         TOTAL PROJECT COST: $7,000,000
ACTION REQUESTED: 
Request authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to approve all work and contracts
including executing and amending any and all necessary contracts and service directives to
purchase and implement IT hardware and software; plus casework design services for the Flight
Information Management System (FIMS) Upgrade Project in an amount not to exceed
$5,400,000 toward an ultimate project cost of $7,000,000. This project is being authorized using
the procedures outlined in Section 5 of Resolution No. 3605.
SYNOPSIS: 
FIMS provides real-time airline flight information throughout the airport to passengers and
tenants. More importantly, FIMS collects and stores data that is used to monitor and optimize a
wide range of airport operations. Given the critical nature of this system, it is imperative that it
be kept up to date with the latest technology and functionality.
Sea-Tac's current system, which was designed over six years ago, has become increasingly
unreliable, and major system failures are occurring far too often. The existing system's design
does not provide adequate functionality to meet today's needs considering the changing nature
and complexity of airline operations.
This project will deliver a highly advanced and flexible replacement FIMS that will provide
many new features and capabilities such as visual paging, emergency notifications, and a much
broader range of information functionality. It will also provide much improved access to
business intelligence information that is used to optimize airport operations and allocate airport
resources such as common use gates and ticket counters. The project will replace outdated and
costly to maintain rear projection displays with flat screen technology throughout the airport.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
April 27, 2010
Page 2 of 5
The FIMS project is a major communication system and this authorization includes the design,
competitive procurement, and implementation of flight data collection systems technology, as
well the design of casework upgrades which will accommodate the latest information display
technology. The casework construction elements will be requested in a second subsequent
authorization following design completion. Construction may be performed by a combination of
Port Construction Services, maintenance crews, small works contractors and/or through a major
works contract.
This project is being authorized through the two-step process authorized in Section 5: Nonpublic
Works. It is classified as such because it falls into the definition of an ICT project as
determined by 5.1 of that section: "ICT projects may include (but would not be limited to) the
major upgrade or replacement of an information or communication hardware or software
system." Because of this, according to Section 5, "Commission authorization will generally be
required only for review of project feasibility and authorization of funds for the acquisition of all
necessary goods, materials, and services necessary to implement and complete the project." This
does not remove, however, the necessity for the above-mentioned authorization for casework
construction elements.
This project was included in the 2010-2014 capital budget and plan of finance as a business plan
prospective project within CIP# C-101117, FIMS Phase II.
BACKGROUND: 
In March 1997, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport initiated a comprehensive strategic plan to
design and implement information systems technology comparable to that being deployed at
progressive airports throughout North America. The FIMS system was approved in 2004 to
provide centralized real-time flight information to travelers and to replace numerous proprietary
airline flight information systems and displays. While FIMS has been operational, many
necessary improvements were identified. Those important project requirements and
improvements include:
The capability to provide additional information throughout the airport such as Visual
Paging, Emergency Notification, and Way-finding. The current system cannot support
these services. Consequently, Sea-Tac does not fully meet requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) for airports to provide visual paging to the deaf and hard of
hearing.
Because the several hundred information displays deployed in 2004 were selected several
years prior to actual installation, they are now long past their design life. Maintenance
costs for these displays are increasing significantly because of the cost of failing projector
bulbs used to illuminate the displays, plus the labor costs required to replace them. The
weight of the displays and the casing configuration requires at least two people for
service calls. Current flat screen display technology is more energy efficient, requires no
maintenance, and has a high mean time to failure rate.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
April 27, 2010
Page 3 of 5
The current FIMS system runs on a very old, unsupported software operating system
prone to failure and increased security risks. In the past year, there have been several
lengthy airport-wide flight information display outages which negatively affected airlines
and passengers.
Several critical features not available in the current FIMS system will be added to the
new system, such as flight leg information, system status monitoring, historical data
archiving, and related management reports needed for planning and invoicing.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND SCOPE OF WORK: 
Project Statement
Competitively procure, develop, and install a replacement Flight Information Management
System that provides a flexible display framework for flight information, visual paging, and
emergency notification features; upgraded monitors and infrastructure hardware; and a
redesigned Resource Management System.
Project Objectives
Replace the current Flight Information Display System (FIDS) with a flexible display
architecture that will meet current and future requirements for information dissemination.
Deliver a Visual Paging solution that meets ADA requirements. By utilizing common
displays, the cost of stand-alone custom signage is avoided.
Upgrade displays with devices that require little or no maintenance and have a high mean
time to failure.
Provide real-time automated system monitoring to immediately notify staff of any system
problems.
Implement a Resource Management System that meets the operational needs of the
Airport and its airline customers.
Scope of Work
Select a new Flight Information System through RFP process.
Provide multi-functional, flexible signage system that will initially include flight, gate,
and baggage information, emergency notifications and visual paging but will also allow
the airport to easily add advertising, way-finding, or other messaging requirements.
Competitively procure new monitors
Design casework upgrades
Replace all systems infrastructure hardware with ICT standard virtualized servers.
Implement software development and systems test platforms to provide support and
future enhancements.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
April 27, 2010
Page 4 of 5
Utilize the new International Air Transport Association standards for airline data feeds.
The casework construction elements will be requested in a subsequent authorization following
design completion.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 
This project supports the following Port strategies:
Ensure Airport and Seaport vitality: The reduction of maintenance and operations costs
positively impacts the cost to the airlines. There are also potential revenue opportunities
for the Port by placing advertising on flight information displays.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
Budget/Authorization Summary: 
Original Budget                                        $7,000,000
Budget Transfers                                            $0
Revised Budget                                      $7,000,000
Previous Authorizations                                         $0
Current request for authorization                                $5,400,000
Total Authorizations, including this request                         $5,400,000
Remaining budget to be authorized                            $1,600,000
Project Cost Breakdown: 
Port of Seattle Labor and Contractors                            $1,800,000
Vendor Implementation                                  $680,000
Software Licenses & Hardware                             $1,800,000
Casework Design                                     $150,000
Contingency ~15%                                   $800,000
Tax 9.5%                                        $170,000
Total                                            $5,400,000
Source of Funds: 
This project was included in the 2010-2014 capital budget and plan of finance as a business plan
prospective project within CIP# C-101117, FIMS Phase II. The source of funds is 100% Airport
Development Fund.
Financial Analysis Summary: 
CIP Category                     Renewal/Enhancement
Project Type                       Technology
Risk adjusted Discount rate               7.0%
Key risk factors                       NA
Project cost for analysis                  $7,000,000

COMMISSION AGENDA 
T. Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer
April 27, 2010
Page 5 of 5
Business Unit (BU)                  Aviation Operations
Effect on business performance            NA
5 Year NPV                    $110,000
CPE Impact                     .12 in 2012 no change from forecast as
this project was included in business plan
forecast
PROJECT SCHEDULE: 
Commission Approval               May 2010
Casework Design Complete            December 2010
Flight Information System Procurement      February 2011
Complete
Flight Information Display Software Complete  June 2011
Project Completion                   December 2012
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED/RECOMMENDED ACTION: 
1.  Replace FIMS: Replace current FIMS system with an integrated system of flexible
display software, state of the art display technology, and an Airport Resource
Management system selected through a formal Request for Proposal process. This
solution will provide a positive return on investment within five years of project
completion, compared with the alterative solution. In addition, the new display
architecture will provide flexibility in meeting current and future signage needs with
minimal cost. This is the recommended solution. 
2.  Upgrade Current System: Upgrade current FIMS Software and Hardware. This
alternative will not provide additional functionality or allow for internal development of
future enhancements. This is not the recommended solution. 
3.  Do Nothing. This alternative risks system failure and disruption to customer activity. This
is not the recommended alternative. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: 
No previous Commission actions or briefings for CIP# C-101117, FIMS Phase II.
ATTACHMENTS: 
None