Above: Face-to-face briefing was still the norm at all major and many minor airports and aerodromes. Major ports, like Melbourne/Tullamarine in the photo below, combined the Briefing and Operational Control (Ops) functions in one unit. The Ops consoles were located out of shot to the left, behind the briefing counter. The Ops Controllers were responsible for the "initiation, continuation, diversion or termination" of all IFR and some VFR flights.

Ops was also responsible for Search and Rescue (SAR) and a Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was set up in the Ops Centre, to be activated when required. The RCC was responsible for SAR for civil aircraft, but often became involved in coordinating marine or land searches by virtue of aircraft being used in the search.

Ops was closed down in the 1990s and Operational Control now rests with the pilot and/or operating company.

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