OREANDA-NEWS. The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) has named Miami International Airport (MIA) its "2013-2014 Airport of the Year" for the airport's steadfast commitment to engaging with the airline pilots who operate there to ensure the highest safety standards for passengers, crews and cargo. ALPA will present the award to the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) tonight during the Association's 60th Air Safety Forum, held August 4-7 in Washington, D.C.

"I offer my deepest congratulations to Director Emilio Gonzalez and the entire Aviation Department for this outstanding recognition," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. "MIA continues to be a national leader not only in passenger and cargo growth and economic impact, but most importantly, in airport safety standards as well."

ALPA's Airport and Ground Environment Group selects the Airport of the Year from nominations made by ALPA's regional safety chairmen and airport safety liaisons who represent pilots' interests at more than 150 airports in the United States and Canada. Nominations range from small regional airports to some of the busiest airports in the world, but all nominees share a common commitment to the highest safety standards.

"We are extremely proud to receive ALPA's Airport of the Year award, which is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to safety at MIA," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. "We have some of the most skilled and dedicated aviation professionals in the country at our airport, and this recognition is further confirmation of that fact."

MIA is among the busiest airports in the world, with more than 90 airlines serving approximately 150 destinations around the globe. In 2013, it served more than 40.5 million passengers and shipped 2.1 million tons of freight around the world. MIA is currently ranked the busiest U.S. airport for international freight, the second-busiest in the country for international passengers, and the 10th-busiest in total passengers among U.S. airports, moving up two spots in 2013. MIA is also the only U.S. airport ranked among the world's busiest airports for international freight, placing ninth in 2013.

"MDAD Airside Operations Supervisor Jim Murphy and the rest of the MIA team have been great partners with ALPA," stated ALPA president Capt. Lee Moak in a press release from ALPA. "They have consistently demonstrated that they understand the importance of having a line pilot's perspective when it comes to safety. They continue to receive our concerns and continue to listen to our pilots' perspectives involving safety issues at the airport. Such a partnership between the airport, ALPA, and pilots can only be good for the industry. Murphy and the MIA operations team keep an open line of communication so that they can have top-notch ramp, taxiway, and runway operations."