During the Great Depression, the Brownings made money selling airplane rides, performing in air shows, and barnstorming.
While Robert flew, Emma would assist as co-pilot or water girl, but over time she began to focus on managing the ground operation.
[4] The couple managed Abilene Airport, through which they met Amelia Earhart, who stayed with the Brownings while her plane underwent repairs.
[5] The same year, the Brownings's friend Hugh Herndon told them about the government's Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP); in September the family flew their Stinson SM-8 to University Airport in Austin.
[2] They leased the airport from Webb Ruff and founded Browning Aerial Service, Inc.,[3] a flight school dedicated to training civilian pilots through the CPTP.
Due to its status as the state capital, governors and other officials would often fly in and out of Austin; Browning made sure to work hard and impress them, establishing a good reputation.
She was known as a shrewd businesswoman—when once asked by Charles Lindbergh to borrow a plane during maintenance, Browning replied: "Charlie, we don't loan airplanes, we rent them.