Airport wins national safety award

FORT MYERS — The Federal Aviation Administration awarded Southwest Florida International Airport with the 2013 Air Carrier Airport Safety Award.

The agency lauded the Fort Myers airport for safety programs deserving of special recognition. Southwest Florida International handled more than 7.6 million passengers last year.

“We have created a culture that encourages our employees to identify and report safety-related hazards, which in turn ensures Southwest Florida International Airport meets or exceeds the safety requirements and standards set forth by the FAA,” says Robert Ball, executive director of the Lee County Port Authority, in a statement.

Some of the 2013 initiatives to promote and improve airport safety included the apron expansion and taxiway project, which enhanced aircraft safety and increased airfield capacity. In addition, the airport undertook a wildlife remediation project, which mitigated high-risk areas near the active airfield. It also focused on runway safety including the relocation of the aircraft rescue and fire fighting station, stringent controls on airfield and movement area driving privileges.