San Francisco International Airport

CIBER Helps San Francisco International Airport Attain Year-2000 Compliance, Meet Staffing and IT Needs

In October 1998, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cautioned San Francisco International Airport officials that the airport, in which more than 35 million passengers travel through annually, was about to be slapped with a "red" status for year-2000 non-compliance of its information technology (IT) - the most severe of the FAA's ratings.

Soon after, the fifth-busiest airport in the country engaged CIBER, Inc. (NYSE: CBR), which the airport had been doing business with since 1989, to help it become Y2K-compliant.

Over the months, the project scaled far beyond the initial concept. CIBER's consultants strategized with the airport's management to determine its goals, then assembled a team of project managers and specialists from the ranks of CIBER and the airport's IT department to begin the overhaul of more than 140 mission-critical computer systems that control the airport's field lighting, fueling, baggage, ticketing systems and other operations and services.

In the midst of CIBER's Y2K Readiness Assessment Project, the airport proceeded with an ambitious expansion - a $2.4 billion capital project designed to make the San Francisco International Airport the easiest, most traveler-friendly in the world. Slated for completion in September 2000, a new International Terminal and electric-rail transit system will be controlled by more than 500 state-of-the-art computer systems. These systems also required Y2K compliance.

The joint team conducted a comprehensive assessment of the inventory of the airport's computer systems and hardware and determined risks. A list of corrective actions that would remediate or replace one-third of the systems was then developed. Following these corrective actions, all of the airport's mission-critical systems tested successfully.

The interdependence of business throughout San Francisco's airport made it imperative that a program of awareness, education and assessment with its vendors and suppliers be conducted. This program served the dual purpose of helping those who did business with the airport and minimizing the airport's exposure to Y2K-compliant risks that were not under its direct control.

"CIBER's solution ensured that passenger and cargo flights arrived and departed uneventfully as the city of San Francisco welcomed the new millennium," said Michalene Smith, CIBER Vice President and Director. "The computer systems, and the services they control, functioned without disruption."

A key element in achieving this state of readiness involved the network of employees and computers that were the backbone of airport operations. CIBER moved quickly to upgrade more than 600 desktop computers to Microsoft Windows 95, which addressed employees' Y2K-compliance concerns. In conjunction with this upgrade, all productivity applications were upgraded to Microsoft Office 97 to eliminate Y2K bugs with a myriad of older and multiple-brand desktop applications.

Customers and suppliers lauded the efforts of the San Francisco International Airport, which now has a complete inventory of its IT infrastructure. In June of 1999, the airport was granted the "green" status by the FAA - the agency's highest rating for Y2K compliance.

CIBER's work for the airport has had positive effects beyond Y2K compliance. With the airport now twice as large, CIBER consultants today are helping to scale its staffing size with new technology positions. CIBER consultants are assisting with networking projects, including integrating the police department's computer systems with its own, providing computer training to employees and supporting a new telecommunications system.

"CIBER has been extremely helpful by providing professional staffing and has become a valuable partner to our Information Technology department," said Randy Rudolph, Director of IT at San Francisco International Airport.

THE PROBLEM

• In October 1998, it was determined that the San Francisco International Airport information systems were not year-2000 compliant.
• With 140 systems and an additional 500-plus for a new International Terminal and electric rail transit system, corrective action would be a significant undertaking.

THE SOLUTION

• Having worked with CIBER since 1989, the airport engaged CIBER to help it become Y2K-compliant.
• The two worked together to assess the inventory of the airport's systems and hardware, develop a list of corrective actions, and remediate or replace one-third of its systems.
• All of the airport's mission-critical systems then tested successfully.
• The team conducted a program of Y2K awareness, education and assessment with the airport's vendors and suppliers.

THE BENEFITS

• Passenger and cargo flights arrived and departed uneventfully with the onset of the New Year. The airport's computer systems functioned without disruption.
• Customers and suppliers lauded the airport's Y2K compliance.
• The FAA bestowed upon the airport its highest rating for Y2K compliance and selected the San Francisco International Airport as one of just three airports at which to hold news conferences on New Year's Eve announcing the Y2K-compliance of the nation's aviation system.
• CIBER continues to work with the San Francisco airport on ongoing projects, including updating of the current Oracle Operational Database; maintenance and updating to the infrastructure dedicated to airport exhibits; as well as general consulting to all of the airport's IT clients.