Austin FSS (AUS), Texas (date unknown)
FAA King Air BE-90 aircraft on the day the Regional Office visited Austin FSS.
Map-fax and history printer
Plotting board
Plotting board
Alice FSS (ALI), Texas, 1985
Austin FSS (AUS), Texas, 1981-1993
Historical data and photo submitted by, Robert Roll, former Memphis Braniff Airline employee
Memphis (MEM), Tennessee, February 1960
Braniff Airlines Air/ground communications radio at Memphis Airport. They had three High Frequency (HF) radio frequencies and one VHF frequency. In addition they had a small tunable VHF backup receiver and a standby tunable HF receiver. An upgrade in equipment at this time included the Motorola SELCAL (selective calling) unit allowing Braniff operators to selectively call individually any of the company aircraft.
There was also a weather teletype machine to receive hourly weather and winds. The station included a 19ASR machine with tape punch to send position reports and other information to the company. During those days they communicated with the Air route Traffic Control Center and relayed clearances to Braniff flights until they got to the Approach Control Zone.
This time-frame marked the end of the era where Company operators relayed flight clearances between the ARTCC and Company planes. As the Electra II went into service and the Boeing 707’s were beginning service, their speed didn’t allow for the time-gap of calling ARTCC, obtaining clearances, contacting a flight, and delivering the clearance. At close to 100 miles every 10 minutes…direct ARTCC/flight communication was essential. And so went the Airline Company Radio Operator. A few remained in Dallas with transmitters remoted across the Company’s system.
Alice FSS (ALI), Texas, June 1974
Alice FSS facility
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Operations area
Memphis FSS (MEM), Tennessee, 1960
Taken from a newspaper clipping: After 43 years and six months of federal service, John L. Prudhomme retired, January 3, 1986. Formerly Manager of Memphis Flight Service Station, John entered on duty with the Civil Aeronautics Administration on July 3, 1942. He was part of the first school that was conducted for station specialists at Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Texas. Of the 20 students who completed the course, only Harry T. Hubbard, Manager of Washington National Tower, is still on board.
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Unknown staff person who was employed at Memphis FSS
Memphis FSS (MEM), Tennessee, 1950’s
Inflight position
Memphis FSS (MEM), Tennessee, 1958
Specialist, Paul Edmiston, receiving a flight plan from Doug Phipps
Memphis FSS (MEM), Tennessee, 1957 -1960
Walter Burris and L. George Rhodes at the flight data position
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Filing flight plans
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Left to right, John Edwards and Grady Bloodworth at the Inflight position
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George Roe, long-time Assistant Chief
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Carl
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Teletype. Person unknown.
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Martha Johnson, Memphis FSS employee
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Ed Nickels, possibly at the supervisors position
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Forest Cottam at the teletype
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Ray Hinds at the teletype
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Teletype position
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Katie McGauran at the teletype
Memphis FSS (MEM), Tennessee, 1985