PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 

COMMISSION AGENDA             Item No.      6d 
Date of Meeting   September 22, 2009 
DATE:    September 4, 2009 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Michael Ehl, Director Airport Operations 
SUBJECT:  Extend the Services Agreement with Robinson Aviation to Provide Continued
Ramp Control Tower Operations for 2010 
REQUEST:  Request authorization to execute a one-year extension to Services Agreement 
P-00312778 for the continued operation of the Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport (Airport) Ramp Control Tower Facility, for an estimated cost of
$1,019,000. 
SYNOPSIS:  Operating a Ramp Control Tower at major airports increases safety, minimizes
taxi times, saves fuel, reduces exhaust, and saves costs for airlines. This
extension takes advantage of options built into the previous agreement while
providing smooth and effective operations at reduced cost. Cost recovery will be
achieved through an existing per-operations tariff so that ramp control costs will
not affect the landing fee rate. 

BACKGROUND 
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides positive control of aircraft activity on the
runways and taxiways at the Airport. This positive control does not extend to the remaining
paved areas for aircraft, known as ramps and aprons. The responsibility for safe aircraft
movements in these non-controlled areas rests with aircraft pilots. The FAA Air Traffic
Controllers can provide an advisory service to aircraft moving on the ramp, however, this is not
part of their core mission. 
Utilization of a Ramp Control Facility provides advisory control of aircraft movements because
it more effectively choreographs aircraft movement to and from the airport runways and
taxiways, provides impartial sequencing of aircraft, and avoids "gridlock." Ramp Control
Facilities at large airports are essential services in daily operations, and have demonstrated to the
satisfaction of airline and airport operations that implementation of ramp control has
incrementally reduced aircraft taxi times, and thus saved the airlines money.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2009 
Page 2 of 4 

The National Transportation Safety Board, in its report on a 2001 runway incursion incident,
recommended that the Airport implement ramp control as a means to reduce the potential for
future runway incursions. The operation of a Ramp Control facility is also fully supported by the
air carriers that operate at the Airport. 
On December 15, 2005, the Airport entered into a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with
Robinson Aviation for the three-year operation of the Ramp Control Tower Facility. The PSA
identified provisions for two one-year extensions. Robinson Aviation has provided outstanding
service in their operation of the facility, and through recent negotiations, hourly personnel rates
were reduced compared to previous estimates. 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTION 
On November 22, 2005, Commission authorized execution of a three-year PSA, for an estimated
cost of $3,675,000, with provisions for two one-year extensions, for the operation of the Airport
Ramp Control Tower Facility. 
On November 11, 2008, Commission authorized execution of the first one-year extension to the
PSA for the operation of the Airport Ramp Control Tower Facility, for an estimated cost of
$1,019,000. 
SCOPE OF CONTRACT 
This contract will provide for the continued safe control of aircraft movement on the Airport"s
ramp and apron areas, enhance gate usage and reduce aircraft emissions and noise by expediting
aircraft to and from gates. This authorization request covers the cost of contract personnel, 
operational expenses, and equipment maintenance for the operation of the Ramp Control Tower 
for 2010. 
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 
Airport Vitality: This authorization provides for the control of aircraft movement to ensure
efficiency and enhanced safety of ground operations. Staffing of the Ramp Control Tower
facility will "Ensure Needed Safety, Security and Capacity on the Airfield." 
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED/RECOMMENDED ACTION 
Alternative one: Extend contract for staffing and operation of the Ramp Control Tower 
for one year. This alternative will provide the personnel to staff and operate the Ramp Control
Tower facility, providing the coordinated flow of aircraft to and from the runways, increasing the
safety and efficiencies for the FAA, the Airport and the airlines. The contract will be publicly

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2009 
Page 3 of 4 

advertised next year and a vendor will be competitively selected for operations beginning in
2011. This is the recommended alternative. 
Alternative two: Do nothing. This alternative would close the Ramp Tower operation and
discontinue the practice of controlling aircraft activity on the ramps and aprons at the Airport. It
would further burden the FAA controllers with "advisory" ramp control service, diminishing their
focus on active runways and taxiways. Inefficiencies in flight operations caused by aircraft
movement conflicts would increase, as would the risk of incursions. This is not the
recommended alternative. 
Alternative three: Recompete the contract immediately. Because the current ramp tower
operator has identified operational efficiencies and continued to increase cost efficiencies for the
Airport and airlines, it is unnecessary to cancel the option year and recomplete immediately.
This is not the recommended alternative. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
Budget/Authorization Summary 
Previous Authorizations, Original 3 Year Contract                    $3,675,000 
Previous Authorizations, 1st One Year Extension (2009)                $1,019,000 
Current Request For Authorization                              $1,019,000 
Total Authorizations, including this request                          $5,713,000 
Remaining budget to be authorized                             $ 0 
Project Cost Breakdown 
2010 
Personnel/Labor Costs                                     $ 963,000 
Washington State B&O Tax                               $ 22,000 
Other                                                $ 34,000 
Total                                                    $1,019,000 
Budget Implications 
The 2010 costs associated with this contract will be included in the annual operating budget.
Corresponding revenue will also be included in the operating budget. R evenues are based on a
per-landing fee charged for all operations, which recovers 100% of costs. This 2010 extension
maintains a 0% flat line budget from the 2009 Commission authorization. 
Cost Recovery 
This contract for ramp services is paid for on a cost recovery per-use basis by the carriers based
upon the number of operations of each carrier. While this service raises the Airport cost slightly

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2009 
Page 4 of 4 

($.07) on a cost-per-enplanement basis, it lowers the operating cost to the airlines to a greater
degree by saving engine run time, fuel use, and safely quickens aircraft into and out of the
terminal gates to improve efficiency and on-time performance. The carriers are very supportive
of the service provided by the ramp tower. 
PROJECT SCHEDULE 
Continued Ramp Tower Operation: January 1, 2010  December 31, 2010