Category: Facilities

Grand Forks FSS (GFK), North Dakota 1964

Inflight position. J. McLaughlin and H. Olson operating the dual air-ground position at Grand Forks FSS

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At the Pilot Weather Briefing (PWB) Station, Chief Lon Daharsh briefs local pilot Lester Jolly. Personnel also must be acquainted with many Canadian rules due to the number of trans-border flights through Grand Forks.

Because of the proximity of Grand Forks Air Force Base and also the Air Base at Minot, North Dakota, a special Flight Data Position (FLIDAP) was necessary. Lyle Wicken is on position.

The FSS was located on the second floor of this building but was moved to the new airport location.

Buffalo FSS (BUF), New York, early 1980’s
Flight Service secretary’s office. The Buffalo FSS was housed in the Federal Services Building, which was located on the general aviation ramp from around 1974 until April 1991, when personnel moved into the new AFSS building.

Buffalo AFSS (BUF), New York August 1989

Construction of the Buffalo AFSS building was completed in 1989.  In this photo, the new Buffalo AFSS was completed but not occupied yet. Due to construction delays on the building, the ICSS that was originally ear marked for Buffalo AFSS was sent to another facility.

The delay was due to litigation between Chemung County and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. Both companies had submitted bids to host the Buffalo AFSS.  Once the litigation was settled, the building commenced occupation sometime in late 1990 or early 1991.  The Buffalo AFSS was commissioned on April 21, 1991 and decommissioned April 9, 2007.

Buffalo AFSS (BUF), New York 2004

Buffalo FSS (BUF), New York, about 1974

Buffalo FSS floor plan depicting the Buffalo FSS when it was located in the airport terminal building

Buffalo FSS (BUF), New York, early 1980’s

The Buffalo FSS facility was located in the Federal Services Building, which was located on the general aviation ramp from around 1974 until April 1991, when personnel moved into the new AFSS building.

Buffalo FSS pilot weather briefing counter

At the pilot weather briefing positions are Richard Seneca (standing), Jack Thiel (left, with pencil), and Russ Cross (right, on phone).

Buffalo FSS (BUF), New York, mid 1960’s

Teletype position.  The FSS was located in the Buffalo airport terminal building.

Training room

Training room

Watch supervisor’s desk

Pilot weather briefing counter

Pilot weather briefing position

Teletype position

Inflight position

In this photo you can see the plotting board used to assist in locating lost aircraft as well as the plotting board instrument case (on wall), and the local NOTAM board (wall next to the clock).

Pilot weather briefing counter – walk-in area

Pilot weather briefing counter walk-in area

Buffalo Terminal building

Albany Flight Service Station (ALB), New York, about 1979
Photos and information submitted by Ed Dietz

Dorothy Brooks, Helen Krywka, and Mike Henry at the pilot weather briefing position

Howie Cammer, Cheri Dominguez, and George Tracy at the pilot weather briefing position

Hank Trembley, Art Schehr, and Larry Nadler at the pilot weather briefing position

Rose Orchard and Team Supervisor, Ross Whitcomb, brief an airline pilot on field conditions at Chicago O’Hare Airport during the January 1979 snow emergency

Cheri Dominguez checks route accuracy of an IFR flight plan and transmits it to the Boston computer

Phil Garcia at the Flight Data position, Bob Hamilton at the Inflight position, team Supervisor, Rich Haldeman at Weather Radar position

Specialists working a lost aircraft orientation

Albany Flight Service Chief, Ed Dietz

Tom Towler and Mitch Edney get pre-duty briefing from Meteorologist, Ed Johnson of the National Weather Service Forecast Office