From Pan American Field to gateway of the Americas
Miami’s airport story began in 1928 when Pan American Airways built a small field west of the city for its flying boats’ land-based operations. Pan Am’s routes to Cuba, the Caribbean and South America made Miami the original international gateway of the United States, and that role never went away. After Eastern Airlines and Pan Am disappeared, American Airlines built Miami into its Latin American hub.
What you’ll see on the live cams
The mix is what sets MIA apart. A single hour can bring an American Airlines 777 from Madrid, a LATAM 787 from Lima, a Copa 737 from Panama City and a 747 freighter carrying flowers from Bogotá. Cargo carriers use the west side cargo ramps, so freighters are a constant feature, especially overnight. Streams with ATC audio let you follow the busy tower and ground frequencies.
Runways
MIA has three east–west runways (8L/26R, 8R/26L and 9/27) and one diagonal runway (12/30). The easterly trade winds mean most of the time aircraft take off and land towards the east, over downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay. Runway 9/27, the one covered by the PTZtv camera, is used heavily for both arrivals and departures.
Best times to watch
- Late evening and overnight: cargo freighters and red-eye flights to South America.
- Early afternoon: arrivals from Europe and the American Airlines midday bank.
- Summer afternoons: dramatic thunderstorms over the field.
