Adamson learned to fly through the Cessna Flying Club. When Cessna introduced the C-206 model with a large cargo door, he received FAA certification for an air mortuary business. He also flew his plane for ambulance flights, passenger charter, cargo, and skydiving. Adamson created Aviation Services Inc., and purchased a Cessna 402 twin-engine aircraft to service U.S. Post Office routs from western Kansas and eastern Colorado. By the end of 1969, ASI was providing passenger service to fourteen western Kansas cities and changed its name to Air Midwest, Inc. In 1976, Air Midwest became the first carrier to be certified as a commuter airline, and the company expanded into New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Named as “Commuter/Regional Airline of the Year” in 1982, Air Midwest added larger and faster aircraft by Swearingen and Saab to service 12 cities in Kansas, as well as points in 11 other states.