Category: Facilities

Submitted by Roger C. Bodtke

Columbus AFSS (OLU), Nebraska 1986

Upon the commissioning of Columbus AFSS, November 17, 1986, the following seven Flight Service Stations began decommissioning and consolidating into Columbus AFSS in the order listed below:  Omaha FSS (OMA),  Sidney FSS (SNY), Chadron FSS (CDR), Lincoln FSS (LNK), Grand Island FSS (GRI), North Platte FSS (LBF), and Scottsbluff FSS (BFF). Columbus AFSS was decommissioned June 18, 2007 and consolidated into the Fort Worth, Texas Hub facility, a federal contract facility operated by Lockheed Martin (renamed Leidos).

Submitted by Roger C. Bodtke

Columbus AFSS (OLU), Nebraska December 17, 1986

Columbus AFSS Dedication Ceremony. Present at the Columbus AFSS dedication from left to right were: Ray McMillan, Manager, Columbus Airways Facility, Ted Beckloff, Division Manager, Central Region State Senator, Lee Rupp, Unknown, Herman Person, former chairperson of Columbus Municipal Airport Authority, Larry Marik, Mayor, Columbus (holding scissors), Senator J. James, Exon Edwin Harris, Director, Central Region, and Curtis Alms, Columbus AFSS Manager.

Columbus AFSS was decommissioned June 18, 2007 and consolidated into the Fort Worth, Texas Hub facility, a federal contract facility operated by Lockheed Martin (renamed Leidos).

Columbus AFSS (OLU), Nebraska 1987
Below photos submitted by Roger C. Bodtke

Left to right: Kevin Harrington, 1986-1991, Jerry Demuth, 1987-1995.

Left to right: Linda Dillsaver, Paul Thompson, Gene Thernau, Inez Kennedy (seated), Brenda Proctor, Mark Rempher, and Dean “Blockhead” Pearsoll.

1987 training class, left to right: James Bennett, David Coffman, Unknown, Ron Fischer (front center), Paul Thompson, Darrell Charbonneau, and Stephanie Webb

Michael Carver, 1986-1991

Robert Mandelko, 1987-1990

Tim White, 1986-2007

Submitted by Roger C. Bodtke

Chadron FSS (CDR), Nebraska, 1986

Roger Bodtke, the last Chadron FSS air traffic manager, sitting at the Inflight radio console.

Chadron FSS (CDR), Nebraska, July 1969
Looking north. The FSS facility is located on the opposite side (north end) of the hanger.  The array of radio antennas belonged to the Chadron FSS.

Looking north on a breezy day. Weather observation instruments can be seen to the right of the flagpole

Entrance to the FSS facility. Al Verge can bee seen standing in the doorway

Radio console at the Inflight position

Operations area. Tops of the teletypes can be seen in the lower half of the photo.

Pilot weather briefing area

Teletypes can be seen in the foreground of the operations area

Miles City FSS (MLS), Montana, 1977
ATCS Jim Anez sitting at teletype in Miles City FSS October 1977.  Teletype Line Switching Unit (TLSU) is partially visible at left of picture

ATCS is Bob Jantzen (retired) standing at Directional Finder (DF) in Miles City FSS, Montana, October 1977. Inflight console is located to his right.

TCS is Jim Anez sitting at Inflight console, Miles City FSS, Montana, October 1977.  Weather maps are displayed above windows beyond the console

Billings FSS (BIL), Montana, about 1883
Photos submitted by Kay Roam

Kay Roam, Airways Facility Technician, testing communications equipment

Billings FSS Pilot Weather Briefing display

The Billings FSS is located on the 2nd floor of this terminal building in the rear where the ramp is located

Billings FSS Inflight position

Submitted by Kay Roam

Billings FSS (BIL), Montana about 1883

Billings FSS Pilot Weather Briefing display

Great Falls AFSS (GTF), Montana, November 2002

The facility was decommissioned May 7, 2007.