Salt Lake City Airport Code: A Brief History

The Salt Lake City Airport, officially known as South Valley Regional Airport (FAA LID: U42), has a rich history dating back to the early 1940s. The construction of the airport began on July 8, 1941, and it was finally completed around July 15, 1942.

The idea for the airport was first proposed by the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, which sought to create a municipal airport that would cater primarily to private fliers. This was done in order to free up the Salt Lake port for army and commercial transport use during World War II.

Chapman, a local contractor, was hired to construct an 80-foot x 100-foot hangar, make other improvements, and operate a commercial flying business. The city granted Chapman a $50 per year ground lease for five years and 2 cents per gallon for all gasoline sold at the airport.

Gibbons & Reed, a local contracting firm, was chosen as the winning bid to grade and pave one runway, build fencing, and install drainage systems. Construction began on July 8, 1941, and the airport was finally opened around July 15, 1942.

Today, South Valley Regional Airport is the primary general aviation airport in the area and serves as a training base for the Utah Army National Guard, which operates Apache and Blackhawk helicopters from the airfield. The airport is also home to several fixed-base operators (FBOs), including Leading Edge Aviation, which provides maintenance services and flight instruction through its subsidiary, Alta Aircraft Maintenance.

For those looking for real-time information on flights arriving and departing from Salt Lake City Airport, FlightAware offers a comprehensive airport guide and live flight tracker. Whether you're a private pilot, a commercial airline passenger, or simply interested in aviation history, South Valley Regional Airport is an important part of Utah's transportation infrastructure.

Salt lake city airport code