RSW receives Project of the Year Award
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) was presented with the 2011 Commercial Airport Project of the Year Award in the Airfield Project category for Excellence in Wildlife Management by the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. The award was presented at the SEC-AAAE Annual Conference held recently in Mobile, Ala.
The Fort Myers airport was recognized for expanding its Wildlife Management program with three additional initiatives that were both safety-conscious and eco-friendly. First, RSW conducted a Wildlife Hazard Assessment using innovative methodology to determine relative risk on the airfield. Next, staff coordinated with local government reviewers, as well as the airport’s certified wildlife biologist, to develop a landscape list for both on and off airport projects. Finally, the airport coordinated with Lee County staff and adjacent owners to create a checklist for Land Uses Near Airports (LUNA). The LUNA list is comprised of seven points that will proactively help developers and county staff in planning for new development in the vicinity of the airport.
“The first priority of the Lee County Port Authority is to maximize safety for the traveling public while being a good steward of the environment and good neighbor in our community,” said Robert M. Ball, A.A.E., executive director of the Lee County Port Authority. “It is an honor to be recognized for our wildlife management efforts at Southwest Florida International Airport that seek to balance preservation with building for the future.”
The Southeast Chapter of AAAE is a non-profit professional organization of airport executives responsible for airport planning, management and operations. It is comprised of members from 12 states, plus the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.
Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 7.5 million passengers in 2010 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, log onto www.flylcpa.com.