Category: Trade Show

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General Trade Show

Meridian Exhibits at Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

Team Meridian is ready to start Schedulers & Dispatchers in Charlotte, NC.  (Left to Right: Phil Boyer, Chris Battaglia, Jenny Deitschman, Jeremy Ojerholm, MaKayla Gorski, and Kirk Stephen)

Meridian sent a team of six associates to work their exhibit at the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) 31st Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2020) held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC, from March 10 – 12.  The company sent representatives from Aircraft Management, Charter Sales and Operations, Customer Service, and Marketing.  The show ended with positive marks among exhibitors and attendees for the show’s timely content, new products and features and quality attendees.
The event ranked among the top 10 editions of Schedulers & Dispatchers, as measured by participation from exhibitors and the 2,500 registered attendees.  It began by addressing a difficult challenge confronting business aviation: the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, a particular concern for a highly mobile industry.
In the opening keynote address, Dr. Clayton Cowl, chair, preventive, occupational and aerospace medicine with the Mayo Clinic, provided an update on the rapidly evolving situation, along with practical tips for reducing community transmission of the virus. Don Chupp, president and CEO with global emergency-response firm Fireside Partners, offered advice regarding communications and business planning in light of the situation.
The opening keynote concluded with an inspiring presentation from Warren Macdonald, Australian environmentalist, adaptive mountain climber and bilateral above-the-knee amputee, who shared life-changing lessons learned after surviving a traumatic climbing accident.
Once the event got underway, attendees were on hand for education sessions covering a host of timely topics, including integration of unmanned aircraft systems into flight departments, combating cybersecurity threats, and the latest considerations for operations in areas ranging from America’s Eastern seaboard to Eastern Europe and Asia.
More than 90% of confirmed exhibitors were on hand, eager to share their perspectives. “We’ve got fixed-base operators from all over the country here exhibiting with us,” said Meghan Allen, associate brand director with SDC exhibitor Phillips 66 Aviation.

An aerial view of the trade show floor at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Bringing added energy to the show were first-time features, including an inaugural SDC New Products Showcase, which introduced 13 products and services new to the business aviation marketplace. “The showcase was very well received,” noted Tyler Austin, NBAA senior manager of certification. “It not only offered these new entrants an opportunity to build relationships with customers; it underscored the innovative spirit characteristic of business aviation.”
With a nod toward the industry’s future, a group of SDC participants gathered before show-start at Charlotte Douglas International Airport with 45 students from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, a local STEM high school, where industry professionals offered the students a first-hand look at the career possibilities available in business aviation.
SDC participants also displayed their pay-it-forward spirit, gathering more than 1,000 pieces of professional business attire for local charities Dress for Success-Charlotte and Suit Up Charlotte.
Despite the event’s momentum, organizers concluded the full SDC program one day early, when the exhibit floor closed on Thursday, March 12.
NBAA’s public statement about the decision noted that the association’s highest priority remains the health and well-being of participants. With that in mind, the SDC organizers added that their planning was informed in part by a series of continually evolving announcements from several authorities, including the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health and aviation-safety experts – all of which were impacting travel planning and other decisions.
“As with all NBAA events, we view our participants as partners whose health, safety and security is always our foremost concern, and that was the guiding principle behind this decision,” noted NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank all SDC participants for their support in this challenging environment, and we look forward to welcoming them back for an even better conference in 2021.”

Downtown Charlotte at night.
Categories
General Trade Show

Meridian Exhibits at San Jose Regional Forum

The Meridian Team is ready to welcome visitors at the San Jose Regional Forum.

Meridian once again proudly participated as an exhibitor at the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Regional Forum in San Jose, CA, on Thursday, March 5. The award-winning private aviation company sent associates from several functional areas, including Aircraft Management, Charter Sales and Operations, Customer Service, and Marketing. Representatives from both coasts were on hand to greet customers, prospects, vendors, and friends.

Carlos Rodriguez, General Manager of Meridian Hayward, was very impressed with the event. “This Forum is a great opportunity for us in Hayward (California) because San Jose is a short ride away, and the event brings together business aviation people from all over the West Coast and particularly the Northern California Region. It’s really a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with new customers, reconnect with associates, and network with industry colleagues.”

NBAA held the trade show at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). The one-day event drew a crowd of about 1,500 attendees, and featured 140 exhibitors, 19 aircraft and 5 displays showing the industry’s latest technologies, products and services.

Some very impressive aircraft are lined up on the static display.

The forum was held in conjunction with three different Northern California Business Aviation Association events, demonstrating strong interest from California companies and their members.

The event got underway with opening session remarks from Dr. David Farnie, medical director of Medaire’s Global Response Center, who provided a timely update on novel coronavirus, with the goal of enabling attendees to make informed decisions regarding travel. He also provided common-sense tips for avoiding illness.

The business aviation community’s strong commitment to aviation sustainability was also in focus at the forum. A panel led by Mike Nichols, CAM, CAE and NBAA’s senior vice president of strategy and innovation, engaged session attendees with information on sustainable aviation fuels, and answered operators’ questions about the blends.

The forum also included an urban air mobility panel featuring Scott Akina from Quantum XYZ, Dave Merrill from Elroy Air and Mark Moore from Uber Elevate. Elroy Air showcased at the forum its Chaparral, a hybrid, 500-pound payload, 300-mile-range aerial cargo delivery system.

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen remarked on the forum’s timely and informative educational content, tangible energy on the exhibit floor and exciting previews of business aviation’s future. “This week’s forum proved to be another valuable addition to NBAA’s series of regional events, and our overall 2020 lineup,” Bolen said. “We were pleased with the strong turnout, we had a great day in San Jose, and we look forward to welcoming business aviation professionals to our upcoming events.”

Meridian will be participating at NBAA’s next event, which will be the 2020 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference from March 10-13 in Charlotte, NC. We hope to see you there!

The Regional Forum drew over 1,500 attendees to the one day event in San Jose, CA.

Categories
General Marketing Trade Show

Meridian Exhibits at White Plains Regional Forum

The Meridian team is ready to welcome visitors to its exhibit at the White Plains Regional Forum held at Westchester County Airport (HPN).

On Thursday, June 6, Meridian sent a team of 15 representatives to the NBAA White Plains Regional Forum at Westchester County Airport (HPN). The event hosted a record-breaking 3,200 attendees, making this the most-attended regional forum in any location.
“With a sold-out indoor exhibit hall of nearly 200 exhibitors and nearly 40 aircraft on static display, the White Plains NBAA Forum was a great value to our members,” said Dina Green, NBAA Vice President of events. “Business aviation professionals come to the forums to meet with customers face-to-face, network, gain valuable knowledge and see multiple aircraft models in one venue – the White Plains Forum provided all of that and much more.”
“It’s really well-attended,” said Dianne Tarantino from Collins Aerospace. “I think this year there are more customers here and it started earlier in the day than it normally does.”
The static display at the White Plains Regional Forum drew large crowds.

NBAA CEO and President Ed Bolen opened the event by stressing the importance of airports in our infrastructure.
“Airports are fundamental to the success of business aviation. We have an infrastructure of airports that opens up the world to us—it’s very powerful,” he said. “All of this is possible because of a broader infrastructure that includes airplanes, it includes airports, it includes FBOs, it includes our ability to access airspace and these airports themselves. It includes a lot of dedicated people who are flying as pilots, but also those who are maintaining the airplane, building the airplane, insuring the airplane, financing the airplane.”
The event featured many programs for students and recent graduates, highlighting the defining aspects of a career in business aviation.
Meridian had a great showing at this year’s event, having the opportunity for face-to-face business paired with the event’s record-breaking attendance. There was never a dull moment at the Meridian booth for the entire event. Kirk Stephen, Director of Marketing, said, “White Plains is always a great show for us. With its proximity to New York City, we have the unique opportunity to meet with many of our customers, vendors, and friends at a local venue.”
White Plains was the last regional forum of 2019. Meridian will be exhibiting again at NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE) in Las Vegas, NV this October. We hope to see you there!
Betsy Wines (center), VP of Customer Service & HR, proudly displays the Pilots’ Choice Award, flanked by Ken and Susan Forester, owners of Meridian.

Categories
Marketing Trade Show

Meridian Exhibits at EBACE2019

Team Meridian at EBACE2019 in Geneva, Switzerland

Meridian proudly exhibited at this year’s highly successful European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2019) held May 21-23 at Geneva Airport and Palexpo Conference Center. The company sent six associates to Geneva representing Sales, Operations, and Marketing. This year’s show highlighted the innovation and investment driving the future of business aviation, including three electric vertical takeoff and landing concepts displayed at the EBACE Innovation Pavilion. Implementing them in congested cities would drastically cut down on traffic and emissions.
“The excitement and enthusiasm surrounding this year’s show has been palpable throughout the week,” said European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) Secretary General Athar Husain Khan. “EBACE2019 was characterized by new products, new business models, new investment opportunities and a new generation of aviation professionals determined to make their mark.”
“Business aviation continues changing right before our eyes, and here at EBACE, we have seen and touched the industry’s future,” said National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We’re finishing EBACE inspired by a vision of sustainable flight, urban air mobility and other game-changing innovations.”
This year’s static display had a few more firsts this year: Bombardier’s Global 7500 and Embraer’s Praetor 600 aircraft made their post-certification debuts on the event’s tarmac. The convention itself spanned three halls and hosted over 400 exhibitors from over 80 different countries and students from the local area attended free of charge. A special “One Young World Summit” was available to young professionals and students to help with entry into the industry and to garner more interest in business aviation in general.
The static display at EBACE is conveniently located at GVA, adjacent to the Palexpo Conference Center.

This conference experienced many “firsts” and other elements that showcased the value of the event, and business aviation, as never before:

    1) The first-ever EBACE Innovation Pavilion showcased three different electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and concepts, from FACC AG, MAEM and Pegasus. Next to this display, the Innovation Zone hosted a panel presentation on eVTOL and the urban air mobility revolution.
    2) Of the 58 aircraft on the sold-out outdoor display, 23 arrived powered by sustainable alternative jet fuel (SAJF), as part of the inaugural EBACE SAJF “fly-in”, a milestone in demonstrating the industry’s support for development and adoption of the fuel. The fly-in followed on the heels of an industry “Fuelling the Future” demonstration day, held 18 May at London TAG Farnborough Airport.
    3) The static display was also a location for other “firsts” among aircraft manufacturers: Bombardier’s Global 7500 made its post-certification debut at EBACE, and Embraer displayed the new Praetor 600 aircraft for the first time since being certified in Europe, the U.S. and Brazil.
    4) The show floor spanned three halls at Palexpo, featuring nearly 400 exhibitors, including 10 new to EBACE, which were prominently located in the show’s New Exhibitor Pavilion. The packed halls were continuously filled with attendees representing more than 80 countries.
    5) The EBACE Opening Keynote Session featured Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter, who described his company’s eVTOL air taxi as “the perfect complement and addition to business aviation,” as well as UK Member of Parliament Grant Shapps, who called business aviation “essential,” and predicted of EBACE: “We will be here in another decade’s time with this exhibition bigger and more important than ever.”
    6) EBACE2019 featured a number of new, well-attended Innovation Zone sessions, including an interactive “Shark Tank”-style presentation of future leaders’ proposals for encouraging corporate social and environmental responsibility.
    7) The show’s Careers in Business Aviation Day, now in its fourth year, drew strong attendance by students from area schools. EBACE also provided an opportunity for EBAA to announce the opening of nominations for the second delegation of students sponsored by the association to participate in the One Young World summit, an initiative that is part of EBAA’s Expanding Horizons campaign.

It seems to be more apparent than ever that business aviation is making leaps and bound to ensure that we are as prepared for the future as possible. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said “We’re finishing EBACE inspired by a vision of sustainable flight, urban air mobility, and other game-changing innovations. EBACE2019 provided a clear look at the future of business aviation, making the show more important than ever. We’re eager to come together next year and see the next stage in all these advancements.”
“EBACE2019 provided a clear look at the future of business aviation, making the show more important than ever,” said Bolen. “We’re eager to come together next year and see the next stage in all these advancements.” Meridian will be exhibiting again next year at EBACE2020, which will be held May 26-28, 2020 in Geneva. We hope to see you there!

The Meridian booth is prepared to receive visitors at EBACE2019.

Categories
General Trade Show

Meridian Attends the NBAA Regional Forum at PBI

The NBAA Regional Forum in West Palm Beach drew the largest crowd in its history this year.

Last week, Meridian sent a team of five down to West Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to represent the company at the first NBAA Regional Forum of 2019. The forum again broke attendance records hosting nearly 2,900 attendees, 250 students, and over 150 exhibitors.
Being the first regional forum of the year, West Palm Beach has set a great precedent for the others to follow and serves as a barometer for the business aviation industry as a whole.
While the business aviation industry constantly breaks attendance records, year after year, NBAA CEO Ed Bolen stressed the need for the industry to push for greater awareness with younger workers and recent graduates: “There’s a big shortage in aviation right now, for not only pilots and mechanics, but basically all facets of the industry, and we need to bring in the younger generation to fill those positions. Our industry gives young people the opportunity to experience life in many different ways. We’re a high-tech industry, so we can meet their expectation in that area too. Young people want to be part of a community and know they belong, and business aviation offers all of that.”
The importance of NBAA regional forums also extends to the future of the industry, with students from nearby Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and elsewhere coming to talk with attendees and exhibitors to learn what business aviation may offer them in terms of career options, as well a forge crucial connections within the industry.
Meridian had a great showing at the forum and took advantage of the opportunity to make considerable connections, as well as meet with our friends within the industry. We thank everyone for making this event a great success. We hope to see everyone at the next Regional Forum in Houston on March 14th!