The year was 1980: the Rubik’s Cube had made its debut, Post-It Notes went on sale and the cost of a gallon of gas was $1.19. It was an eventful year, as the U.S. Olympic ice hockey team made history at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics that came to be known as “Miracle on Ice,” and CNN launched the first 24-hour news station, while ABBA was playing on the radio and Nine to Five was showing on the big screen.
1980 was also notable for the Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA), as it marked the beginning of Al Stuart’s career as an Airport Operations Officer. In this position, Stuart performed operational duties associated with curbside enforcement, law enforcement, and terminal, ground transportation and airfield operations. After more than four decades with SLCDA, Stuart will retire on July 29, 2022.
During Stuart’s 42-years at SLCDA, he has seen and done it all in no fewer than seven positions. But perhaps the biggest change Stuart has seen is opening the first new hub airport built in the U.S. in the 21st Century.
“The most memorable aspect of working at the airport is that every day has the potential to be different,” says Stuart. “The best thing about working at SLC has been the relationships we enjoy as a management team as well as at all other levels and divisions.”
Stuart is not only well known at SLCDA, but he is also recognized nationally in the aviation industry as an expert on FAR 139, low visibility operations, runway safety, construction safety, airport drivers training and snow removal programs. He has served on numerous local and national boards, including the Utah Airport Operators Association (UAOA) for 40 years.
Stuart is also accredited by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and in 2018 received the AAAE National Distinguished Service Award.
