▁to ▁discover ▁the ▁air line ▁under ▁a ▁labor ▁dispute . ▁ ▁The ▁strike ▁continued ▁for ▁two ▁years , ▁with ▁no ▁U PA ▁pilot ▁returning ▁to ▁the ▁company , ▁until ▁August ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁when ▁pil ots ▁Cal vin ▁Hum ph rey ▁and ▁Mike ▁M ills ▁organized ▁a ▁" s weet heart " ▁union ▁which ▁de - cert ified ▁U PA ▁and ▁established ▁the ▁" R io ▁Pil ots ▁Association ". ▁Rio ▁acquired ▁compet itor ▁Davis ▁Airlines ▁of ▁College ▁Station , ▁Texas ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁and ▁began ▁service ▁to ▁that ▁city . ▁ ▁The ▁Con nell ' s ▁who ▁owned ▁Rio , ▁sold ▁it ▁in ▁early ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁to ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁invest ors ▁from ▁Houston , ▁Texas ▁head ed ▁by ▁Hugh ▁Se ab orn ▁a ▁former ▁owner ▁of ▁Metro ▁Airlines ▁▁ ▁Rio ▁operated ▁various ▁aircraft ▁types ▁through ▁its ▁history ▁and ▁initially ▁fle w ▁single ▁p ist on ▁engine ▁Pi per ▁Ch ero kee ▁Six ▁and ▁tw in ▁p ist on ▁engine ▁Be ech ▁ 1 8 ▁aircraft . ▁ ▁Tur b op rop ▁aircraft ▁were ▁then ▁operated , ▁including ▁the ▁Be ech craft ▁ 9 9 ▁until ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁followed ▁by ▁de ▁Hav ill and ▁Canada ▁D HC - 6 ▁T win ▁Ot ters , ▁Fair child ▁S we ar ingen ▁Met rol in ers ▁( Met ro ▁II ▁models ), ▁de ▁Hav ill and ▁Canada ▁D HC - 7 ▁D ash ▁ 7 s ▁and ▁Be ech craft ▁ 1