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Unusual Attitudes: Wasn’t that a Time

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article chronicles Hogan Air/Miami Valley Aviation, an airfreight company known for its operational prowess with vintage aircraft but consistent struggles with FAA paperwork and recordkeeping, leading to a certificate revocation and subsequent re-certification.
  • It highlights a controversial and seemingly excessive FAA enforcement action against the company's chief pilot, Kevin Uppstrom, who faced a temporary ATP suspension for a non-aviation related incident during a flyover.
  • The author, an FAA inspector, reflects on his involvement in the company's journey and his enduring friendship with Uppstrom, sharing insights into the unique era of DC-3 freight operations and the complexities of FAA oversight.
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I borrowed this title from a documentary about Pete Seeger and the Weavers because the phrase “wasn’t that a time” always comes to mind when I ­remember an airfreight company operating out of southwestern Ohio for nearly 30 years — first as Hogan Air and then Miami Valley Aviation.

Martha Lunken

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.

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