About Us
Meridian Air Group was founded in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1997 with just two employees. The company purchased a 1976 Cessna 421C, primarily to support the family travel needs of the owner. We established our headquarters at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport 19 years ago, and we are still here, celebrating 19 years of accident-free operating history.
In 1998, Meridian obtained an Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office in Richmond. In the spring of that year, we started conducting unscheduled on-demand aircraft charters for the public. Meridian began serving its first aircraft management client in 2000 with the addition of the first Pilatus PC12 aircraft. At the time, only 240 PC12s were operating worldwide. Within two years, we introduced the aircraft to our charter clients, subsequently adding additional aircraft to our fleet each year in 2003 through 2007.
In 2006, Meridian expanded the business interests to include services that support aircraft operations, such as fueling and maintenance. In the fall of that year, we opened a satellite location in the County of Louisa to operate our fixed-base services at Freeman Field; otherwise known as the Louisa County Airport. In 2007, Meridian reached aircraft assets under management in excess of 14 million dollars.
Our Staff
Martin R. Dodson, Director of Maintenance & Service Manager
mdodson@meridianairgroup.com
Martin is a 33-year veteran of the aviation industry and has held his Inspector-Authorization certificate for more than 20 years. In addition to his duties as the Service Manager in Culpeper, Martin is also the Director of Maintenance for our air carrier operations. Before coming to Meridian Air Group in 2007, he owned and operated two maintenance businesses and managed an FAA-certified repair station. In addition, he managed and conducted inspections for multiple aviation businesses in Virginia. He is factory trained in Pilatus aircraft, Diamond aircraft and Pratt & Whitney PT- 6 engines. When Martin isn’t hovering over an aircraft, he enjoys spending time at his home in Orange County and riding his Harley.
Steven A. Walters, Owner & Director of Operations
swalters@meridianairgroup.com
Steve has been with Meridian Air Group since the company’s founding in 1997. He is a licensed Airline Transport Pilot.
All of Steve’s personal and professional flying has been done from Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport since 1989. In 1992, he started flight instructing including teaching prospective pilots for Piedmont Virginia Community College. Steve started his first full-time corporate aviation job in the spring of 1994.
Originally from the Washington DC suburbs near Vienna, Virginia, he graduated from Oakton High School in 1986 and earned a Bachelor’s degree in American Government from the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences in 1990. Prior to becoming a professional pilot, Steve served as the Operations Supervisor for UVA’s University Transit Service from 1990 to 1994.
Christopher H. Replogle, Chief Pilot
creplogle@meridianairgroup.com
As the Chief Pilot of Meridian Air Group, Chris is responsible for the hiring, training and certification of all flight personnel. He has worked as an aircraft manager with Meridian Air Group since 2003. Prior to MAG, his experience includes: lead flight-test engineer supporting both fixed-wing and rotary-wing flight test programs for the U.S. Navy; safety officer and instructor for a contractor providing flight training to Marine Corp. officer pilot candidates; and FAA designated Aviation Safety Counselor. Chris’ broad background in engineering, project management and flight operations is an asset to MAG. A native of Virginia, he enjoys the outdoors, kayaking, skiing, piloting sailplanes and academic pursuits.