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Avfuel Corporation and Meridian announce a new partnership between the leading independent supplier of aviation fuel and services, and one of the most recognized names in FBO services.

Beginning Jan. 4, Avfuel took over as the official branded fuel supplier of Meridian’s Hayward, California, location.

“We are honored the Meridian team entrusted Avfuel to help care for its team’s and customers’ needs,” Joel Hirst, Avfuel’s senior vice president of sales, said. “The addition of Meridian Hayward to the Avfuel Network provides another premier flying and fueling location in the heart of California, with access to top-tier FBO amenities and Avfuel’s dependable programs.”

“We are very excited to partner with Avfuel as our fuel supplier,” Carlos Rodriguez, Meridian Hayward general manager, said. “Avfuel is well-respected throughout the aviation industry for its reliability, innovative solutions and customer support. As part of its network, we look forward to raising the visibility of our brand while also growing our fuel sales volume. In addition, its focus on integrating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into the supply chain will be an asset as we work to expand our own efforts in that area.”

Centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, Meridian Hayward provides business and leisure travelers alike convenient access to the Bay Area’s most popular destinations. Situated on a general-aviation only airport, guests benefit from services that cater to the private aviation traveler, including 24-hour availability at an airport with no commercial airline traffic, and professionally-trained customer service and line service teams.

Meridian’s FBO terminal offers everything customers expect, and more, from a world-class facility. It features an elegant main lobby, full-service business center, a conference room with full A/V capabilities and seating for 12, professional concierge services, and a coffee bar, kitchen and catering area available for both passengers and crews. Pilots benefit from state-of-the-art amenities, including a pilot briefing area, pilot lounge, sleep room and shower. With rental cars and crew cars available on site, guests can quickly hit the road while their aircraft stay secure overnight with tie downs or hangar space.

Meridian’s expertly-trained line staff is on hand to provide a full suite of ramp services, including GPU, lavatory service, potable water service and quick turns. With IS-BAH Stage II accreditation and Safety 1st certification from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), guests can be assured their aircraft, passengers and pilots are in adept hands from wheels down to wheels up.

As an Avfuel-branded location, Meridian Hayward’s customers will enjoy lucrative rewards with the industry’s preferred loyalty program, AVTRIP, and streamlined transactions through Avfuel Contract Fuel, which provides competitive fuel rates at more than 3,000 global locations. This is in addition to the back-end solutions a partnership with Avfuel provides, helping daily operations run as smoothly as possible.

Those headed to NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, are encouraged to visit the Meridian Hayward team in Avfuel’s aisles, booth #616, to learn more about the location’s offerings.

We at Meridian are proud to support our friends at the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum. Last week, the organization held its 47th Annual Induction Dinner at the Fiesta Ballroom in Wood-Ridge, NJ, the first time in three years due to the pandemic. This year, five inductees were admitted into the Hall of Fame: Dr. Eugene Richardson, Lt. Col. Edward Ballanco, Michael Castania, Dorothy Johanna Fulton (Slinn), and William Thomas Watkinson, Jr. For more information about these aviation pioneers, click here to read their bios in Horizons, the event program. http://ow.ly/XQ4r50LxMv2

Founded in 1972 and located at Teterboro Airport, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey is dedicated to the preservation of the Garden State’s distinguished, two-century aviation and space heritage. The men and women, whose outstanding aeronautical achievements have brought world-wide recognition to the state, are enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that its West Coast fixed base operation (FBO), Meridian Hayward, was again voted the Corporate Aircraft Association’s (CAA) Preferred FBO at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) in Hayward, CA. CAA is a membership-based organization that is dedicated to enhancing the operating efficiencies of corporate flight departments. A CAAPreferred FBO represents a combination of superior service and fair pricing for its members, provided by the most highly qualified personnel and FBO management in the industry.

A CAA Preferred FBO must be voted into the program by qualified members. If there are multiple FBOs at an airport, the one receiving the highest percentage of votes is awarded the exclusive CAA contract for 3 years. Meridian Hayward was first named CAA Preferred in 2018, the first year it was eligible for the designation.

“Our entire team is honored to again receive this recognition,” said Meridian Hayward General Manager, Carlos Rodriguez. “At Meridian, outstanding customer service is our hallmark. This designation gives us the additional opportunity to demonstrate to CAA members that we provide exceptional service and line support at competitive prices.”

Meridian Hayward currently features a 6,300 sq. ft. terminal, 3.5 acres of ramp space and a 30,000 sq. ft. hangar that can accommodate any size corporate aircraft, including large cabin jets. As part of the company’s overall growth strategy, plans are well underway to build a brand new 40,000 sq. ft. hangar, as well as expand the terminal facility and enhance the amenities for both crew and passengers.

“It is very gratifying to be recognized by our customers for our commitment to excellence and a desire to provide the best value for our services,” added Rodriguez. “Both our Hayward facility and our Teterboro facility are committed to always putting the customer first.” Meridian’s East Coast FBO, Meridian Teterboro, has been the CAA Preferred FBO at Teterboro Airport since 1996.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that both its Hayward (HWD) and Teterboro (TEB) facilities have achieved IS-BAH Stage II certification. The International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) is an industry code of best practices developed by the international business aviation community for the benefit of its members. The IS-BAH registration process, which was initiated in 2014 by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), ensures handling systems, processes and practices meet rigorous safety and security standards. The standard is based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices in the preparation of handling business aircraft. Both FBOs have been Stage I registered since June 2020.

According to IBAC, the IS-BAH auditing process focuses on development of a safety management system (SMS) through a gradual process of advancing maturity. Stage I confirms that an organization has established an SMS infrastructure and that safety management activities are appropriately targeted. Stage II ensures that the safety risks are being effectively managed.

“When we decided to pursue the IS-BAH certification, we had always planned to progress from the initial stage to Stage II,” said Carlos Rodriguez, HWD General Manager. “For Stage I registration, we developed an entire SMS and Ground Handling Manuals. To move on to Stage II, Meridian had to demonstrate that our SMS is maturing and evolving with our company needs.” Although not a requirement, the company plans to pursue Stage III at some future point.

Stage II certification required significant involvement from Meridian employees. A total of 21 interviews with team members at both Hayward and Teterboro were conducted during this process. “Our team demonstrated to the auditors that we are living our commitment to safety every day,” said Victor Rodriguez, Line Service Manager at Teterboro. “Their participation and support were an important element in helping Meridian achieve Stage II certification.”

As part of his responsibilities, Victor oversees the Safety and Training program at Teterboro. Carlos, who is also Victor’s brother, coordinates Hayward’s Safety and Training program. Both have been instrumental in managing the IS-BAH certification process for Meridian.

“IS-BAH Stage II registration is a significant accomplishment for Meridian as it goes beyond having an SMS in place,” added Carlos. “It demonstrates our commitment to a daily safety culture and shows our dedication to the highest standards in everything we do.”

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to again be recognized among the nation’s best Fixed Base Operators (FBO) in two of the industry’s leading surveys. In the Aviation International News (AIN) annual FBO survey, Meridian Teterboro was voted among the Top 5% of all FBOs in the Americas and was the only FBO from the Northeast region, which includes the NYC metro area, recognized in that category. Meridian’s West Coast FBO, Meridian Hayward, was ranked in the Top 10% for the first time, and was listed among the Top 3 FBOs in the San Francisco/Oakland area.

In the Professional Pilot (ProPilot) annual PRASE survey, Meridian was rated the #1 FBO at Teterboro Airport and ranked #13 among all US FBOs. Meridian was also voted the #7 Best Independent FBO in the country. Meridian is the only independently owned FBO at TEB, and has operated under the same family ownership since 1946.

Both surveys also recognize individual customer service performance, and Meridian is proud that several of our employees were honored. Victor Seda, Customer Service Manager at Meridian TEB, ranked #3 among the best Customers Service Representatives (CSR) in the ProPilot survey, while two other CSRs were acknowledged by AIN in the “Above and Beyond” category. Jenny Deitschman, Customer Service Supervisor at Meridian HWD, and Betsy Wines, VP of Customer Service at Meridian TEB, were both recognized for their dedication, commitment to excellence and always putting the customer first.

“Since Meridian Hayward opened its doors in 2016, our team has worked hard to provide the same level of outstanding service that customers have come to expect from Meridian,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Hayward’s General Manager. “We are honored that our customers appreciate our efforts and rate our FBO so highly.”

“It is rewarding that our continued commitment to be the best is recognized and appreciated by our customers,” said Steve Chandoha, Meridian President. “We are proud of our legacy of exceptional service and sincerely thank our customers for their support and confidence in us.”