Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to welcome Nehemias Camacho as Director of Ground Operations. “Camacho”, as he is commonly called by his colleagues and friends, assumed the newly-created position on July 26.
Camacho, who most recently served as a Manager of Ramp Services at United Airlines, spent 21 years with Meridian, primarily as Line Services Manager. Camacho joined United in early 2020 in what he calls “a rare opportunity to experience the commercial side of the aviation industry.”
“We are delighted to welcome Camacho back to Meridian,” said Steve Chandoha, Meridian President. “The experience he gained at United, coupled with his knowledge, skills and previous tenure at Meridian, complements the expertise he brings to this new position. This is especially relevant as we strive to deliver the best possible FBO experience.”
Last year, Meridian made the strategic decision to realign its business units to focus exclusively on its core FBO business. Meridian currently has two world-class FBOs that continue the company’s long legacy of excellence and outstanding customer service.
As Director of Ground Operations at Meridian Teterboro, Camacho has overall responsibility for the departments of Line Service, Security, Ground Service Equipment and Detailing. As the company continues to experience an uptick in business and growth, his role will be expanding.
“It’s really great being back at Meridian,” said Camacho. “Returning to the company was seamless in some ways, but in other ways, it’s very different with the added responsibilities of my new position. One thing that has remained the same is the feeling of being with family that working at Meridian gives you.
“I made the decision to join United because it was an opportunity to learn something new,” Camacho continued. “I definitely learned some things that I had not been exposed to in business aviation, and at the same time, there were skills I learned at Meridian that I was able to implement at United. I feel that I made an impact with United’s leadership team while also improving the relationship between frontline employees and leaders. Motivating others to provide the best service to every customer made me realize how much I appreciated Meridian and what it stands for.”
“These are exciting times for Meridian,” added Chandoha. “Along with Camacho and the rest of the Meridian team, we will continue to do what we do best – put every customer first.”
Category: Detailing
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website, meridian.aero. Designed with the user experience in mind, the new site showcases the aviation services Meridian offers along with the company background, news, and details on the health and safety protocols in place. The new site incorporates many enhancements and easy-to-access navigation to provide users with in-depth information. It also incorporates a responsive design that allows the site to be optimized across multiple platforms, including tablets and smartphones.
The new website offers improved functionality in an uncluttered and visually-appealing design that lets users quickly find the information they want, including fuel prices, ramp fees and the ability to make a reservation. Other features include the ability to request a detailing quote, ask for information, provide feedback on our service, and direct contact information for each department or location.
Meridian’s new site coincides with the company’s strategic realignment of its business units, which will allow it to focus exclusively on its premier FBO business. The company will also continue to offer aircraft detailing, cleaning and decontamination services. “The streamlining of our business allows us to concentrate on continuing our customer-centric approach to consistently offer the best possible service,” said Steve Chandoha, President. “The redesigned website reflects our position as an industry leader and highlights what sets us apart.”
“In addition to updating the website to showcase the fresh vision for the company, the goal of the redesign was to provide visitors with an enjoyable user experience and ensure they find the information they are looking for,” said Kirk Stephen, Director of Marketing. “Our team spent a great deal of time developing and preparing the new site to be as informative, easy-to-use and productive for the user as possible. We think visitors to the site will be happy with the outcome.”
The site features dedicated pages for each of the company’s FBO locations that include complete details on their respective services, amenities and certifications. There is also a page for the Detailing department with a comprehensive overview of the wide variety of exterior and interior services available, as well as the cleaning and decontamination services they offer. Other sections of the site include an extensive photo gallery, company blog and links to social media.
“Outstanding service and a dedication to always putting the customer first has been a hallmark of Meridian for over 70 years,” added Mr. Chandoha. “The new website reflects our brand and the standards we are known for. We’re excited about the launch and think this new site will allow visitors to easily find the information they need about our world-class facilities and award-winning service.”
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce the opening of a new, state-of-the-art hangar at its New Jersey-based headquarters in Teterboro Airport. Construction on ‘Hangar 12’, as it is commonly known, is now complete and the structure is fully operational.
The new building replaces the original Hangar 12, which was demolished in the summer of 2016. This modern facility includes a 40,000 sq. ft. hangar and a two-story support building, effectively doubling the size of the previous facility. The first floor includes tenant office space as well as a comfortable customer reception area. The second floor is primarily reserved for charter support, including maintenance, quality assurance, and in-flight services. The hangar will serve as a maintenance facility, as well as provide parking accommodations for both managed and transient aircraft.
“The new Hangar 12 enhances Meridian’s footprint at TEB and gives us more space and flexibility for maintenance and allows us to hangar additional aircraft,” said Steve Chandoha, President of Meridian Teterboro. “As we continue to grow and as traffic increases in the busy Northeast corridor, this expansion will help us continue to serve our customers and meet their needs.”
In addition to Hangar 12, Meridian’s complex at Teterboro includes its headquarters facility, which features a 40,000 sq. ft. hangar and a 30,000 sq. ft. Executive Terminal, and another 22,000 sq. ft. hangar with additional office and support space at the south end of the airport.
The new Hangar 12 is designed to handle a variety of large-cabin aircraft, including the Gulfstream G650 and Global 6000. The facility features larger hangar doors for easy access and other features that will enhance service and support capabilities for Meridian customers.
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company with FBO locations at Teterboro and Hayward Executive Airports, proudly participated in the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA’s) 2017 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2017) held this year in Fort Worth, TX, from February 7-10.
Meridian sent a team of nine representatives from several departments within the organization, including Charter Sales and Operations, Aircraft Management, Customer Service, and Marketing. In addition, Mike Moore, VP of Aviation Sales, gave a presentation about Aircraft Management to a large crowd attending the annual Grand Prize Luncheon on the last day of the conference.
In keeping with the festive spirit of S&D, Meridian held a booth raffle on the first afternoon of the event. The grand prize was an Apple Smart Watch and the lucky winner was Richard Allsop, Sales Manager with Signature Flight Support at London Luton Airport. The drawing was captured on Facebook Live and posted on the company’s website. The entire Meridian Team congratulates Richard on his new digital timepiece!
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen was on hand to welcome attendees to the show and talk about the future of the industry. NBAA is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. The event proved to be a resounding success, with more than 2,900 attendees and 541 booths on the exhibit floor – both new records for the annual event. “The record-setting attendance and sold-out exhibit floor highlight the fact that SDC continues to provide high-quality education, networking and business development opportunities for this important segment of the business aviation industry,” said NBAA’s Vice President of Operational Excellence and Professional Development Mike Nichols, CAM.
NBAA decided this year to change a long-standing format for exhibitors. In past years, booth space was limited to a standard 10′ x 10′ space, putting all participating companies on equal footing. This year, for the first time ever, exhibitors were allowed to purchase booth space ranging from 10′ x 10′ up to 10′ x 40′, creating a mini-BACE atmosphere. Reactions to the new format were mixed. This year’s conference offered dozens of educational sessions with topics such as career development, operational excellence, international operations, and many others.
Every year at S&D, there is a strong tradition of giving back to the local community. This year, event organizers partnered with “Ana’s Baskets” to benefit Safe Haven of Tarrant County, TX, a non-profit organization that exists to end domestic violence through safety, support, prevention and social change. The ‘baskets’ are actually laundry baskets filled with household cleaning supplies from sponges, to soap, to shower curtains, and are provided to Safe Haven clients to help them begin new lives free of domestic violence.
More than 100 volunteers packed 30 baskets with about $3,100 in supplies on Feb. 7, prior to the opening of SDC2017. During the conference, attendees also donated clean, ready-to-wear clothing and sample personal items to area charities. Additionally, furniture purchased specifically for the event will be donated to the local YMCA.
Dozens of scholarships also were awarded at SDC2017, with thousands of dollars in monetary and training scholarships presented to individuals. Additionally, Aymie Thornton, a longtime Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee volunteer, received the association’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement & Leadership Award. “I urge schedulers and dispatchers to stay engaged all year long,” said Gordon. “People can get involved with their local and regional groups. There’s a lot of ways to stay connected throughout the year and continue to make those connections until the next conference.”
Next year’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2018) will be held in Long Beach, CA, from February 6-9.
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport, is pleased to announce the promotion of Anthony Lanzone from Detailing Supervisor to Detail Manager. Mr. Lanzone began his career at the company as a part-time detailer in 2004, when Meridian Jet Center was known as Million Air Maintenance. At the time, there were only two detailers in the department. He was eventually hired as a full-time employee, and by 2007, he was promoted to Detailing Supervisor. Today, the Detailing department is part of Meridian Jet Center and has a full time staff of eight. For a brief period in 2005, the Detailing department became part of Meridian Air Charter, but it was decided that in order to better service transient aircraft, the department should be structured with aircraft maintenance.
Anthony’s responsibilities involve all aspects of detailing, including both interior and exterior of the aircraft. For example, he is responsible for cleaning and detailing all company operated and transient aircraft, monitoring flight and cleaning schedules, managing bright work schedules and interior deep cleaning services, and managing and supervising department staff in work functions and shift schedules. Anthony and his team work closely with flight crews, flight operations, and maintenance personnel on all aircraft detailing matters.
John Langschultz, VP of Meridian Jet Center, had this to say, “The Detailing department is an integral part of our aircraft maintenance business, and Anthony has been doing an outstanding job in keeping things running smoothly. We often receive last minute requests for detailing services, and he makes it happen even under the most difficult of circumstances. Our number one priority is to make sure that our customers are happy, and Anthony is always proactive in the fulfillment of that responsibility. Our customers often remark at how nice their aircraft looks after Anthony and his experienced team have completed a job. This promotion is well-deserved, and we are looking forward to more good things to come from Anthony as we expand our business to Hayward, CA.”
Meridian, the full-service private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport, made a strong appearance at the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA’s) 2015 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2015) in Las Vegas, NV. The award-winning company proudly displayed its new exhibit in the North Hall with a 400 sq. ft. booth, and had 18 representatives on-hand to greet customers, friends, vendors, and new visitors. In addition to networking and reconnecting with industry peers, Meridian was pleased to announce the upcoming opening in 2016 of its new FBO and hangar at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) in Hayward, CA.
Ken Forester, Meridian CEO, had this to say, “Having a presence at the NBAA Convention is absolutely essential to our business. The annual event is a showcase for our industry, and fosters a positive environment for building relationships, conducting business, branding our company, and creating new opportunities. This was the perfect venue to announce the opening of our new facility in Hayward, which we expect to happen in August 2016.”
Event organizers report that the show was once again a resounding success for attendees and exhibitors alike. “This year’s show was enormously successful,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “In addition to the strong participation from exhibitors and attendees alike, our industry’s largest event once again showcased the size and significance of the business aviation community, as well as the passion and professionalism of its people.”
NBAA’s 2015 convention, which took place from Nov. 17 to 19, featured more than 1,100 exhibitors in the Las Vegas Convention Center, and more than 27,000 attendees. Additionally, about 100 aircraft were displayed in several locations – at a sold-out static display at Henderson Executive Airport, at an indoor display inside the convention center and at various exhibitor booths on the convention hall floor. Attendees from the show represented all 50 U.S. states, and 96 countries.
Along with the numbers demonstrating the strength of this year’s show, Bolen cited several other examples of the convention’s value:
• A crowded Opening General Session, which kicked off the show on Nov. 17, featured leaders from government, business and industry. Government leaders included Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, Rep. Dina Titus (D-1-NV) and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. Other speakers included Mark Baker, president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and Dierks Bentley, acclaimed singer, songwriter and pilot.
• A well-attended, second-day Opening Session on Nov. 18 featured aviation leaders and legends, including “Miracle on the Hudson” hero-pilot, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger. Also, Joe Clark, the inventor of winglet technology, was presented with NBAA’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. In addition, the National Aviation Hall of Fame announced its 2016 class of enshrinees.
• An inaugural National Safety Forum – a day-long session held on Nov. 19, the third and final day of NBAA2015 – which brought together top government and industry leaders to discuss and address the principal safety issues confronting business aircraft operators.
• The introduction of new or enhanced industry-advocacy tools, which were unveiled at the convention’s Media Kickoff Breakfast. For example, new, mobile-friendly versions of the No Plane No Gain website and NBAA’s online Contact Congress tool were introduced. Also, a new survey once again puts forward the true face of business aviation, to help correct misperceptions about the industry. In addition, a new edition of the “Business Leaders on Business Aviation” booklet was introduced – the expanded publication features testimonials from CEOs on the value of business aviation to their companies.
• A live Emergency-Response Simulation, which provided valuable knowledge on emergency preparedness responsibilities from leaders in aviation safety. The live demonstration put attendees at the scene of a simulated accident and utilized role-playing to demonstrate various flight department roles during an emergency.
• A full roster of education sessions, held throughout the week, as well as sessions on the future of aviation, and on unmanned aircraft systems, held in NBAA’s “Innovation Zone” on the exhibit floor.
• New events devoted to attracting and retaining young talent to business aviation, including an education session on creating internships in business aviation (where NBAA’s new Internship & Career Guide was introduced), as well as a session about how to identify and support the next generation of business aviation leaders, and a Careers in Business Aviation Day and a young professionals networking event.
• A successful charity benefit, co-hosted by NBAA and Corporate Angel Network (CAN), which raised $505,000 in support of CAN’s mission to provide life-saving flights to take cancer patients to treatment centers aboard business aircraft.
“NBAA’s 2015 convention was a memorable event that showcased our industry’s vitality and relevance,” Bolen said. “We were thrilled by the enthusiasm and activity that marked each of the show’s three days, and we are already are looking forward to next year’s convention in Orlando, FL, from Nov. 1 to 3, 2016.”
Wood-Ridge, NJ – On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey held its 43rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at the Fiesta Ballroom in Wood-Ridge, NJ. This tribute dinner honors local aviation pioneers and financially supports the hall of fame and museum, located on Fred Wehran Drive in Teterboro, NJ. It is one of the museum’s biggest fund raising events of the year.
Founded in 1972, 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. Men and women whose outstanding aeronautical achievements have brought worldwide recognition to the state are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Meridian is a proud supporter of the museum, and representatives of the company enjoy attending the induction dinner every year. Ken Forester, Sr., who founded Meridian with Bob Hewitt back in 1946, was himself inducted into the hall of fame in 2008. He was among those who attended on Tuesday evening.
This event recognized three individuals who are connected to New Jersey and who have each uniquely contributed to the advancement of human flight.
The 2015 NJ Hall of Fame Inductees were:
Capt. Janis K. Blackburn (Born 1948)
A longtime resident of Belmar, Blackburn began her flying career as a flight instructor and charter pilot. Her true goal was to work for the scheduled carriers. The time was the late 1960s and the major airlines were, by and large, not accepting applications from women for cockpit positions. Blackburn persisted in spite of repeated rejections and was finally hired by Princeton Airlines, a small NJ carrier. This was the beginning of a long and successful career with Summit Airlines, Sun Country, Eastern, Kiwi, and Spirit (from which she retired in 2013.) At virtually every carrier Blackburn was the first female in her position including becoming the first women to crew the A-300 in America and the first female captain at Kiwi. After flying her last trip with Spirit she began working as a consultant with the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, a position she holds today.
Throughout this period Blackburn served the aviation community in a myriad of other ways. Among the organizations that she contributed to, usually in leadership roles were the Ninety-Nines women’s flight organization, the Civil Air Patrol, the New Jersey Aviation Education Council, the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association, the Air Line Pilots Association and the FAA Safety Counselor Program. She even travelled to Africa to participate in missions work in Kenya. Always interested in youth aviation education, Blackburn recently became an author with the publishing of her first children’s book, Teddy, The Airplane.
Still an active flight instructor with the Monmouth Area Flying Club Blackburn has logged over 22,000 piloting hours during her lifetime.
Henry M. Holden (Born 1939)
Making his home in Randolph, Holden is a prolific aviation historian and author. In 1994, Mr. Holden was honored in the United States Congressional Record for his work in recording the history of American women in aviation. He was the recipient of the Author’s Award from the New Jersey Institute of Technology for his book Her Mentor Was An Albatross – The Autobiography of Pioneer Pilot Harriet Quimby. In 1996 Holden launched the Women in Aviation Resource Center, an online repository of educational, historical, and networking resources for women interested in all aspects of aviation. In 2010 He was given the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of NJ’s Distinguished Service Award.
Holden is the author of over 1,000 magazine and newspaper articles appearing in national publications. Holden has also published 43 books, and is the founder of the DC-3/Dakota Association. His two volume history of the DC-3 is considered to be the definitive work on this legendary aircraft. Holden is a member of Women in Aviation International, AOPA, and EAA. He speaks at aviation events cross the country as a guest lecturer. His work has been the subject of a number of radio and television programs including one on the History Channel. Henry is a former News Editor East for Airport Journals and had been a monthly contributor.
A selection of aviation magazines that he has written for, includes: Private Pilot, Plane & Pilot, Airport Journals, Skylight, World Airnews, InFlight-USA, American Aviation Historical Society Journal, Women in Aviation, Woman Pilot, Airport Press, Aviation History, Vintage Airplane, Warbirds, and Sport Aviation Magazine.
General James E. Young (Born 1920)
Raised in Passaic and Nutley; Young joined the U.S. Army Air Force in January 1942, about a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Upon earning his wings he was initially assigned to flying B-24s and B-25s on 43 anti-submarine patrols off the East Coast. In January 1944 Young was re-assigned to Italy where he flew both B-24s and B-17s on combat missions that included four raids on the Ploesti Oil Fields. In June of that year Young was transferred to England where he went on to complete 34 more missions on B-17s, some of which involved supporting the D-Day invasion. During this time he was awarded both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.
Upon release from active service at war’s end Young joined the NJ Air National Guard. He was recalled to active duty during both the Korean War and the Berlin Crisis in 1961-62. After returning to New Jersey he was promoted, in 1967, to Commander of the ANG 170th Military Airlift Group at McGuire AFB. He remained its Commander in 1977 when it became the 170th Air Refueling Group after transitioning from transport aircraft to KC-135 Jet Strato-Tankers. In 1979 Young was promoted to Brigadier General and became Assistant Adjutant General for Air, NJ Department of Defense. He retired from this position in 1980 after 39 years of service and 11,000 flying hours on 15 aircraft types.
During Young’s Air Force and Air National Guard career he was awarded a total of 18 medals and commendations.
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based in Teterboro, NJ, is pleased to announce the launch of its first-ever web video. The video begins with an introduction by Kenneth Forester, CEO, and then transitions into segments detailing each of the four main aviation services offered by the company. The length of the video spans 3 minutes and 12 seconds.
Kirk Stephen, Marketing Manager, had this to say, “The development and launch of our web video was a key component in our corporate communications strategy, especially since digital has become such an important part of our brand’s marketing mix. I think the video captures the essence of what Meridian is all about, and it communicates our mission in a clear, concise, and meaningful way.”
The video can be viewed by clicking the image above. It can also be found on the home page of the Meridian website (www.meridian.aero), as well as on Meridian’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/meridianteterboro).
Orlando, FL – Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport, wrapped-up a busy and productive three days at the industry’s largest trade show, the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA’s) 2014 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2014). The event concluded on Thursday, October 23, 2014, in Orlando, FL, and according to event organizers, all indications report that the show was a success for attendees and exhibitors alike.
Meridian, which debuted a brand new 400 sq. ft. booth, sent a large delegation of company representatives to work the show. The Meridian associates came from all areas of the company, including the FBO, Air Charter, Aircraft Management, and Maintenance. The team was able to accomplish a lot while at the venue, including receiving large throngs of visitors to the Meridian exhibit, hosting several private meetings in the booth conference room throughout the show, attending continuing education courses and presentations, visiting customers and vendors, engaging with prospects, and sharing ideas with industry colleagues.
Kirk Stephen, Meridian’s Marketing Manager, had this to say, “Our participation at this year’s NBAA event has been one of the best we’ve had in many years. Meridian has lots of exciting news of growth and expansion to share with the business aviation community, and we felt this was the year to come out strong. In order to emphasize the importance of our continuously growing charter fleet (now over 25 managed aircraft), and the expansion of our Fixed Base Operations to Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward, CA, we sent a full delegation of 15 company representatives and debuted a new 20′ x 20′ exhibition booth for the big show. The overall feedback was extremely positive, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s event.”
NBAA2014, which took place from Oct. 21 to 23, featured about 1,100 exhibitors in the Orange County Convention Center. Additionally, more than 100 aircraft were displayed in several locations – at a sold-out static display at Orlando Executive Airport, at an indoor display inside the convention center and at various exhibitor booths on the show floor. More than 26,000 people attended the show, which included representatives from 49 U.S. states and 95 countries around the world.
“This year’s show was an enormous success, filled with announcements and product introductions,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “The exhibit floor and aircraft displays had lots of activity and excitement. The education sessions were informative and well attended. The event once again showcased the industry’s size, diversity and significance. Perhaps most important, the show provided many reminders that ours is an industry characterized by passion and professionalism.”
Next year, NBAA will hold its Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Las Vegas, NV, from Nov. 17 to 19, 2015.
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in Teterboro, NJ proudly participated as an exhibitor at the NBAA Regional Forum held in Dallas, TX on Thursday, September 18, 2014. There were five Meridian associates at the show to represent all aspects of our diverse business services and offerings. The one-day trade show was hosted by Business Jet Center located at Dallas Love Field (DAL), which drew more than 1,600 attendees, featured more than 100 exhibitors and nearly 20 business aircraft on static display.
“General aviation is and will be the future. Business aviation and commercial aviation have a direct impact on jobs and the economy,” said Dallas Director of Aviation Mark Duebner to an audience of prospective business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers and customers. NBAA’s President and CEO Ed Bolen conveyed to attendees the strong sense of enthusiasm and optimism surrounding the business aviation industry. “Fuel sales are up, aircraft transactions are taking place and the economy is strengthening,” Bolen said. “This industry has a remarkable commitment to finding ways to not only survive, but to also thrive.”
NBAA Business Aviation Regional Forums bring current and prospective business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, customers and other industry personnel together for a one-day event at some of the best airports and FBOs in the nation. Regional forums incorporate exhibits, static displays of aircraft and education sessions into one-day events located across the country to help introduce business aviation to local officials and prospective owners and operators, and to help address the issues of the day in the regions.
In less than one month, NBAA will be hosting its annual Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2014) at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. It is the world’s largest and most important business aviation event. Ranked as the fourth largest tradeshow in the U.S., NBAA2014 will feature over 1,000 exhibitors, nearly 100 side-by-side business aircraft at the static display, over 25,000 business aviation professionals and dozens of education sessions.
Meridian is pleased to announce that we will be featuring a brand new exhibit at this show, so please be sure to stop by our booth and say hello. We will be located at Booth #1878.