"Boston Logan leads the country in several categories when it comes to improved aviation safety for the traveling public," said ALPA AGE Chairman Capt. Bob Perkins. "Pilots like it because they can see the improvements that the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has implemented over the years - from better runway signage, markings, and new runway status lights to more taxiways, every project makes a difference."

"Boston Logan is deeply honored to receive this award," said Edward C. Freni, Director of Aviation for Massport. "This award not only signifies that the airport gets it when it comes to making pilots key players on our safety team, it also represents a strong vote of confidence about the work we do to improve safety."

ALPA said Massport officials actively seek out and address airline pilots' concerns with safety plans and initiatives related to airfield improvements, adoption of new technologies, advances in airfield procedures and programs, and enhanced emergency planning.

Some of the technological initiatives sited by ALPA are the planned installation of ASDE-3X radar, runway status lights, advanced simulator training for air traffic controllers, electronically updated field condition reports, the testing of a FOD detection system and a new ship monitoring and height detection radar system.

ALPA's Perkins noted that "Boston has even delivered several initiatives, like the enhanced runway marking and signage project, ahead of schedule and gone above and beyond the FAA regulations to make its airport safer. It's clear that their management and workers place a high premium on collaboration with all industry representatives to get the job done."

"The Massport BOS team has always involved the pilot community at all levels of critical initiatives related to airfield improvements, advances in airfield procedures and programs, and enhanced emergency planning designed to make BOS the safest airport that it can be," wrote Adam Zaret in nominating Logan for the award. "These initiatives will directly and positively benefit the safety of the traveling public and pilots alike."

ALPA's AGE Group selects the Airport of the Year from nominations made by ALPA's Regional Safety Chairmen and Airport Liaison Representatives, who represent pilots' interests at more than 200 commercial airports in the U.S. 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.

Founded in 1931, ALPA represents 55,000 members at 40 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.alpa.org.