FAA Flight Service Academy Lab, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

This FSS Lab was the first used to train FSS personnel in 1962. The Lab was designed by Clyde Little and Bill Mace, plus the construction of all scenarios to simulate the working of a flight service station. At the front center of the picture is the Pilot briefing counter for walk in pilots. Behind the counter is the Teletype position, where all written traffic was sent and received.

Clockwise is the Military flight plan position, where Military flight plans were sent and received between the FSS and a Military Flight Service facility. The instructor behind the student is Wally Home.

Clockwise in the back is a radio position for sending and receiving messages via radio between the FSS and pilot, the instructor is Glen Goodman. Farther clockwise in the back is another radio position, the instructor is Bill Mace. Clockwise the next position is the Pilot Briefing position where all flight plans were received by phone and Pilot Weather briefings were preformed.  The instructor with his back to us is David Hahn.

The scenario problems were fed to the students from the room pictured in the back. Students fed the problem from these positions to pilots via radio,
phone and teletype between facilities.

All aspects and services preformed were very realistic to the student in the
lab receiving the information.  Lost aircraft problems were entered into
the system. Students were so involved that they would forget where they
were etc.  The person standing with the earphone is Clyde Little, lead
instructor.

This may seem very antiquated and does not fit into the present system close to 50 + years later, however it was very successful in the value to the pilot and aviation in general.

Photo and text submitted by Clyde Little.