Tag: exhibit

Categories
General

Meridian Exhibits at NBAA-BACE2019 in Las Vegas

The Meridian team is ready on opening day to receive visitors at its exhibit for the 2019 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Nearly 25,000 industry leaders and professionals from across all 50 U.S. states and 89 countries gathered in Las Vegas for the most inspiring, interactive and innovative convention NBAA has ever hosted. About 100 business aircraft were on display inside the Las Vegas Convention Center and nearby Henderson Executive Airport, where the event took place October 22-24. On the show floor, nearly 1,000 exhibitors, including more than 100 first-time exhibitors, featured incredible displays of their latest offerings, along with an inaugural New Product Showcase.

Meridian had a strong presence as an exhibitor at the event, commonly known as the 2019 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). The company sent 12 associates to represent its many private aviation services at its 400 sq. ft. booth, including charter sales, flight operations, aircraft management, marketing, and FBO customer service from both Teterboro and Hayward locations. Three key themes prevailed at this year’s convention: innovation, sustainability, and outreach to the next generation.

Innovation in Focus

This year’s NBAA-BACE put new modes of transport, such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles, front and center. Full-scale prototypes and concepts for the vehicles were thronged by attendees in the all-new UAS/UAM Innovation Display Area.

On the keynote stage, Bolen presented NBAA’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award to record-breaking pilot, military veteran and business leader Ross Perot, Jr., who is partnering with Uber on UAM infrastructure. Head of Uber Elevate, Eric Allison, shared the latest steps toward realizing that vision, and tech entrepreneur Sky Dayton, an investor in electric aircraft startup Joby Aviation, predicted UAM could become a reality in just a few years.

A brand-new composite-bodied aerobatic aircraft, the GameBird GB1, was brought to the stage by Steuart Walton, Game Composites founder and chairman. The stage also featured the iconic jet-propelled wing that “Jetman” Yves Rossy uses to fly like bird, with Rossy sharing the story of how his team developed this experimental technology.

On the show floor, an inaugural New Product Showcase introduced 11 new, distinctive products from a host of innovative companies. Inside the convention center and at Henderson Executive Airport, nearly 100 of the latest business aircraft were on display.

Also at the airport, Gulfstream unveiled its new G700, Bombardier displayed its Learjet 75 Liberty mockup for the first time and Textron Aviation’s newly certified Citation Longitude was on hand. Pilatus introduced the NGX, and other aircraft, including Tecnam’s P2012 Traveller, made their first appearances at NBAA-BACE.

Sustainability a Priority

Sustainability in business aviation was a dominant theme throughout the show, with around two dozen aircraft fueling enroute with SAF, a non-fossil power source that can reduce aviation’s carbon lifecycle emissions by up to 80 percent. Local civic and business leaders issued a proclamation recognizing the business aviation community’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, with an estimated 150,000 gallons of SAF pumped into aircraft at Henderson Executive Airport.

To further sustainability, NBAA joined with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and other industry stakeholders to announce a new Business Aviation Global Sustainability Summit in Washington, DC, in March 2020. A panel of industry leaders, in an “I Want My SAF” forum, offered perspectives about increasing SAF availability and usage before a standing-room only audience.

Over 23,000 people attended NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport from October 22-24, 2019.

Outreach to the Next-Generation Workforce

Throughout the show, trailblazing aviators were honored, and shared their work to attract the next generation of visionaries to join the business aviation workforce.

Barrington Irving, who in 2007 became the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world, received NBAA’s 2019 American Spirit Award for his work to engage young people in the pursuit of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and careers in aviation.

Also on the keynote stage, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt, America’s first female fighter pilot, shared her work promoting diversity in aviation, along with retired Air Force general and former NBAA Board Chair Lloyd “Fig” Newton.

On the show’s final day, Careers in Business Aviation Day hosted hundreds of students who attended NBAA-BACE for free, where they heard from FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and Jim Payne, chief pilot on The Perlan Project, who has flown a pressurized glider as high as 76,000 feet, toward a goal of reaching the edge of space.

NBAA also unveiled its 2019 class of Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 young professionals (YoPros), who are already reshaping the industry.

“This week proved that in business aviation, we want the future, and we want it now,” Bolen said. “That future was on proud display in Las Vegas, with a show that fired the imagination, and inspired us to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – and that’s what defines aviation.”

The Meridian exhibit is ready for business on its 400 sq. ft. booth location
in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Please join us next year, October 6-8, 2020, when NBAA-BACE heads to Orlando, FL. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

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
General

Meridian Exhibits at Houston Regional Forum

On March 14, 2019, Meridian sent a team of three to the NBAA Regional Forum, held at William P. Hobby International Airport (HOU) in Houston, TX.  The company was well-represented with people from various departments, including Customer Service, Charter Sales, and Marketing. The sold-out forum was a major success, buzzing with over 1,800 attendees, over 160 exhibitors, and a dynamic static display featuring 21 aircraft, one mock-up, and three ground vehicles.

Meridian sent a team of three to represent the company at the NBAA Regional Forum in Houston. (l to r): Saqiba Parveen, Matt Barclay, and Lindsay Berkel.

Aside from the business aspect of the forum, many representatives from the state of Texas, including Gov. Greg Abbott arrived at the hangar to highlight the positive impact that business aviation has for the local economy and disaster relief efforts for the whole of Texas. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, commented that “In Houston as elsewhere, business aviation is about jobs, and it’s about lending a helping hand in times of crisis.”
Local college and high school students were invited to attend special classes geared towards young professionals and those looking to enter the industry.  One student said, “I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet with so many business aviation professionals today; I want to be a pilot and it’s been great to be able to talk to people with real-world experience about what to expect in this line of work and how I can be prepared for my career.”
Meridian was proud to participate at this event in this important market for business aviation. Our representatives had the opportunity to network with industry colleagues, meet with new prospects and customers, and showcase our services while at the show. The next Regional Forum will be held at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, NY, on Thursday, June 6.  We hope to see you there!
The Houston Regional featured over 20 business aircraft for its static display.

Categories
General

Meridian Exhibits at 2018 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

The Meridian Team at S&D in Long Beach, CA. (Left to Right): MaKayla Gorski, Kirk Stephen, Chris Battaglia, Mike Moore, Bob Platten, Amber Salvatore, and Phil Boyer.
The Meridian Team at S&D in Long Beach, CA. (Left to Right): MaKayla Gorski, Kirk Stephen, Chris Battaglia, Mike Moore, Bob Platten, Amber Salvatore, and Phil Boyer.

This past week, Meridian proudly participated as an exhibitor at the 2018 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2018). This year’s conference was held in Long Beach, CA, from Tuesday, February 6 through Friday, February 9. The event demonstrated once again its continuing value as the premier educational and networking event for professionals involved in business aviation logistics.
The special 4-day show featured more than 550 exhibitors on a sold-out floor and more than 2,900 attendees (150 first-timers). Both numbers set new records for SDC. In addition, the program included dozens of innovative education sessions, various networking events and ample opportunities to give back to the local community.
“This is the place for a scheduler or dispatcher to go for professional development and education,” said NBAA Vice President of Operational Excellence and Professional Development Mike Nichols, “Especially for someone brand new to the industry, it’s one-stop shopping for what they need to know, not only with great education sessions, but also with peer-to-peer learning that happens outside of the education sessions on the trade show floor.”
SDC2018 included many new features, most notably an increased focus on educational opportunities. With more than 30 education sessions offered, SDC2018 had something for everyone. Tyler Austin, Manager of Professional Development at NBAA, made it clear that they were, “strategic in thinking through what we should offer in our 33-session program, and we listened closely to what attendees said they wanted- from the basics of scheduling to operating internationally, to starting their own business.”
Furthermore, SDC2018 also put emphasis on its charitable contributions. This year alone, three charities received support through the Pay It Forward Campaign, including Dress for Success, Pacific Gateway, and Clothes the Deal, all of which help less fortunate men and women in the Long Beach Community. In addition, dozens of monetary training scholarships were awarded at this year’s show.
In order to create brand awareness and draw traffic to our booth, the Meridian team held a raffle with a grand prize giveaway of an Apple iPhone X! Other prizes included Amazon gift cards. The raffle was a huge success as it drew a very large crowd of business aviation professionals to our location. The entire raffle was captured on Facebook Live.
The lucky winners were:

  • Dean Lynch of CTP Aviation (Grand Prize)
  • Shane Yuknis of Lyon Aviation
  • Rob Swan of Harrods Aviation

Congratulations to the Meridian raffle winners at S&D last week! The Grand Prize winner was Dean Lynch of CTP Aviation (3rd from left), with other prizes going to Shane Yuknis (left), and Rob Swan (2nd from right).
Congratulations to the Meridian raffle winners at S&D last week! The Grand Prize winner was Dean Lynch of CTP Aviation (3rd from left), with other prizes going to Shane Yuknis (left), and Rob Swan (2nd from right).

Overall, the event was a tremendous success. It provided an invaluable opportunity for us to learn and connect, as well as network with industry peers. We were pleased with the event’s exciting environment as well as the overwhelming amount of positive energy that surrounded it. Special thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by our booth and to those who made this event possible.
The next Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, which will mark the event’s 30th anniversary, is set for January 29 – February 1, 2019 in San Antonio, TX. We look forward to seeing you there!

Categories
Aircraft Management Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward Maintenance Private Air Charter

Meridian Exhibits at NBAA-BACE 2017 in Las Vegas

The Meridian Team at the 2017 NBAA Convention in Las Vegas.
The Meridian Team at the 2017 NBAA Convention in Las Vegas.

Last week, Meridian was well-represented at the 2017 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, NV. Meridian, with FBO locations at Teterboro Airport (TEB) and Hayward Executive Airport (HWD), was proud to participate in the largest business aviation event of the year by sending a team of 14 associates to represent the company at its 400 sq. ft. exhibit to welcome customers, prospects, visitors, and friends. NBAA-BACE is held annually by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). NBAA’s 2017 convention took place October 10-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport (HND).
This year’s convention coincided with the one-year anniversary of the opening of our new West Coast FBO, Meridian Hayward, located in Northern California. An article in the Autumn edition of Business Aviation Magazine featured an interview with our CEO, Ken Forester, about the facility and highlighted the importance of business aviation in the region. Meridian also ran print advertisements in major industry publications, while also drawing crowds to its exhibit with an exciting and well-attended raffle on the second day of the show. The grand prize was a briefcase filled with a mystery amount of cash. Two additional winners walked away with high-value Amazon gift cards, and and many lucky spectators were given Meridian t-shirts after the raffle was over. The company was well-represented at the show by all departments from both locations, including Customer Service, Charter Sales & Operations, Aircraft Management, Aircraft Maintenance, and Marketing.
Ken Forester, CEO, was at the event and had this to say, “We are extremely pleased to be at this year’s NBAA Convention during the 1st anniversary of the opening of Meridian Hayward. We have come a long way since opening our doors last year, and we are still welcoming new customers to our FBO everyday. This event is a great opportunity for us to share the message with our industry colleagues that we are now firmly established on the West Coast and receiving aircraft for both transient and charter customers. Hayward is the keystone of our long-term growth strategy, which also includes a new hangar project in Teterboro that is expected to be operational by year’s end, and the continued expansion of our managed fleet.”
NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition is the country’s sixth-largest trade show, and the largest in the world focused on business aviation. This year’s event likely set a record for number of attendees — about 27,000 were expected. Attendees represented all 50 U.S. states and dozens of countries. NBAA2017 also hosted 1,100 exhibitors (including more than 100 new exhibitors), a static display inside the Las Vegas Convention Center, and some 100 aircraft at the outdoor static display at Henderson Executive Airport. NBAA-BACE remains the preeminent venue for manufacturers to unveil new models. For example, this year, the Bombardier Global 7000, Gulfstream G600 and Pilatus PC-24 made their debut at the show.
All three days of the show were packed with well-attended education sessions, including half-day programs at the NBAA National Safety Forum and Single-Pilot Safety Standdown. Discussions featured top safety experts and representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). On the final day of the show, more than 1,000 students came to NBAA-BACE, many to participate in Careers in Business Aviation Day, hearing from Dreams Soar Founder and around-the-world pilot Shaesta Waiz – plus a chance to interact with industry leaders and potential employers at the College/University Roundtable event. A charity auction event, held by NBAA and the Corporate Angel Network, raised $435,000 for CAN’s mission to transport cancer patients to treatment centers.
Next year’s convention will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL from October 16-18, 2018. We hope to see you there!
Lloyd Janes, a commercial pilot, was the grand prize winner of Meridian's raffle contest. He won a briefcase filled with cash and a set of handcuffs to prevent it from being stolen. Congratulations Lloyd from all of us at Meridian!
Lloyd Janes, a commercial pilot, was the grand prize winner of Meridian’s raffle contest. He won a briefcase filled with cash and a set of handcuffs to prevent it from being stolen. Congratulations Lloyd from all of us at Meridian!

Categories
Aircraft Management Executive Terminal (FBO) General Maintenance Private Air Charter

Meridian Exhibits at NBAA Regional Forum in Morristown

Meridian was a proud exhibitor at the NBAA Regional Forum in Morristown, NJ. The event was held at Morristown Airport (MMU) on September 7, 2017.
Meridian was a proud exhibitor at the NBAA Regional Forum in Morristown, NJ. The event was held at Morristown Airport (MMU) on September 7, 2017.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company located in Teterboro, NJ (TEB) and Hayward, CA (HWD), proudly exhibited at its third and final National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Regional Forum of the year. The highly anticipated Northeast Regional was held for the first time at Morristown Airport (MMU). The event drew 160 exhibitors, featured 37 aircraft and vehicles on static display, and attracted more than 2,500 attendees. Exhibitors were happy about the outstanding turnout and agreed that the forum was an all-around success.
Kirk Stephen, Director of Marketing, was very satisfied with the outcome of the event. “I was pleasantly surprised to see the number of exhibitors and attendees at the show today. I know that Hurricane Irma was severely impacting our aviation friends in Florida, but all things considered, I think the attendance had been quite robust.” Stephen credits NBAA for hosting a productive trade show. “The Regionals are very important to us because it gives our people the opportunity to connect with many of our customers in a local setting that the big shows can’t always provide. I know that our Charter, FBO, Management, and Maintenance teams were able to network with many of our longtime customers, while also meeting several new prospects. The value of these shows are immeasurable because of the face-to-face contact they provide.”
NBAA Regional Forums return in 2018 to the follow sites: West Palm Beach, FL on Jan. 24; White Plains, NY on June 21; and San Jose, CA on Sept. 6. In 2017, the next upcoming event is NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas from October 10-12. This convention is considered the most important event of the year for business aviation. Meridian will be participating at this three-day trade show with a 20′ x 20′ island exhibit and a team of representatives from every department. Be sure to visit us at our booth located in the Central Hall (C10021). We look forward to seeing you there!

Categories
Executive Terminal (FBO) General Private Air Charter

Meridian Exhibits at NBAA Regional Forum in Fort Worth

Lindsay Berkel (left) and Nora Jacob (right) represent Meridian at the NBAA Regional Forum held at Fort Worth Meacham Airport (FTW) in Fort Worth, TX.
Lindsay Berkel (left) and Nora Jacob (right) represent Meridian at the NBAA Regional Forum held at Fort Worth Meacham Airport (FTW) in Fort Worth, TX.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company located in Teterboro, NJ (TEB) and Hayward, CA (HWD), proudly exhibited at its second NBAA Regional Forum this year. The Fort Worth Regional was held for the first time at American Aero FTW. The event drew 148 exhibitors, featured 27 aircraft on static display, and attracted more than 1,700 attendees.
Nora Jacob and Lindsay Berkel represented Meridian at the event. Nora is the Customer Service Supervisor at Meridian’s Teterboro Airport location, and her role is to help coordinate and manage the team of CSRs back at the FBO to make sure that we are providing exceptional customer service. Lindsay is one of our professional sales executives who is part of our Meridian Air Charter team. She reaches out to existing customers and prospects to provide competitive charter quotes, and assists our operations team in the trip planning process. Both have said that the forum was very productive and relevant.
“The regionals are great because it gives us a chance to meet our customers face-to-face in a professional environment”, say Nora. “We have many customers from this area who stop at Meridian when they fly into New York. It’s nice to see them in their local area.” Lindsay was also impressed, “I work with many retail and broker customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so this forum is a unique opportunity for us to catch up with them in person.”
The final NBAA Regional Forum of 2017 will be held on Thursday, September 7 at Morristown Airport (MMU) in Morristown, NJ. Meridian will also be participating at this one-day event with an exhibit and a team of representatives from every department within the company. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Categories
Aircraft Management Detailing Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward Maintenance Private Air Charter

Meridian Attends SDC2017 in Fort Worth, TX

Team Meridian is ready to greet visitors at its booth during SDC2017 in Fort Worth, TX. (l to r): Jamie Labocki, Estrella Reynoso, Bob Platten, MaKayla Hambek, Lindsay Berkel, Mike Moore, Saqiba Parveen, and Kirk Stephen.
Team Meridian is ready to greet visitors at its booth during SDC2017 in Fort Worth, TX. (l to r): Jamie Labocki, Estrella Reynoso, Bob Platten, MaKayla Hambek, Lindsay Berkel, Mike Moore, Saqiba Parveen, and Kirk Stephen.

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.

Kirk Stephen (right) of Meridian is shown with Richard Allsop (left) of Signature Flight Support. Mr. Allsop was the lucky winner of Meridian's booth raffle held on Wednesday, February 8. The Grand Prize was an Apple Smart Watch. Congratulations Richard!
Kirk Stephen (right) of Meridian is shown with Richard Allsop (left) of Signature Flight Support. Mr. Allsop was the lucky winner of Meridian’s booth raffle held on Wednesday, February 8. The Grand Prize was an Apple Smart Watch. Congratulations Richard!

Categories
Aircraft Management Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward Maintenance Private Air Charter

Meridian Exhibits at West Palm Beach Regional

The Meridian Team working the booth at the NBAA Regional Forum at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI).
The Meridian Team working the booth at the NBAA Regional Forum at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI).

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company with locations at TEB and HWD, is proud to have exhibited at the first NBAA Regional Forum of 2017 at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) on Thursday, January 26. The company sent representatives from Charter Sales, Customer Service, and Marketing to meet and greet visitors at its booth. The Meridian team was happy to see many familiar faces while also meeting new people in the industry, many who were exhibiting or attending for the first time.
According to Kirk Stephen, Marketing Director, the NBAA Regional in West Palm Beach is an important event in which to exhibit. “South Florida is a huge market for us, so it makes perfect sense for us to be here. In addition, we are continuing to create awareness of our new and recently opened FBO located at Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward, CA. Anyone flying a business jet into the San Francisco Bay area should know they now have another option, Meridian Hayward. We hope our presence at West Palm Beach reinforces our commitment to our customers, vendors, and friends in the region who have given us so much support.”
It was an event featuring strong participation, a robust lineup of products, dozens of airplanes, and local policymakers on hand to recognize the industry’s value. The forum set a record for the venue, with more than 2,400 attendees, a sold-out floor with 145 exhibitors and a static display featuring 28 aircraft and six ground vehicles.
“As evidenced by the significant turn-out of attendees and exhibitors, Palm Beach continues to be one of the most important markets for business aviation,” noted Mike Nichols, CAM, NBAA vice president, operational excellence and professional development. “The mood was positive, and a lot of business connections were made at this event.”
The timing and location for the forum were also important, given that the business aviation community learned last week of the Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) now scheduled to take effect when President Donald Trump is at his Mar-a-Lago residence, located 2.1 nautical miles from PBI. NBAA added a special pop-up education session to discuss the changes operators could expect.
The forum also served as a kick-off of for NBAA’s 70th anniversary, and association President and CEO Ed Bolen said the milestone was a time to reflect on the past and look toward the future. In the past year, the industry has lost aviation leaders such as Arnold Palmer, Bob Hoover, Gene Cernan and John Glenn, reminds reminder “that a torch is being passed, and we have an opportunity to carry on their legacy by getting involved,” Bolen said.
The forum also played host to Jerry Allen, Palm Beach International Airport; Jeff Ramsden, South Florida Business Aviation Association and Shawn Rowan, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. Additionally, Palm Beach County Mayor Paulette Burdick, who came by to lend her support to the industry. “As a county we are committed to the industry,” she said. “It’s an important part of our economy.”
And, as always, the forum provided an invaluable opportunity for companies to meet current customers and connect with new ones, as well as network with industry peers. “It’s very important for us to get face time with all of our clients,” said Ivette Pla, director, Jetex. “There are always new customers coming into the market, so this is a good way to tap into those clients.”
Meridian is planning to exhibit at the next NBAA Regional Forum, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 23 at Fort Worth Meacham Airport (FTW) in Texas.

Categories
Aircraft Management Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward Private Air Charter

Meridian Announces Hayward Opening at NBAA2016

Meridian was well-represented at the 2016 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando, FL. This year the focus was the opening of Meridian Hayward, the company's new FBO on the West Coast.
Meridian was well-represented at the 2016 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando, FL. This year the focus was the opening of Meridian Hayward, the company’s new FBO on the West Coast.

Last week, Meridian was well-represented at the 2016 Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Orlando, FL. Meridian, headquartered at Teterboro Airport (TEB), was proud to participate in the largest business aviation event of the year by sending a team of 13 associates to represent the company at its 400 sq. ft. exhibit to welcome customers, prospects, visitors, and friends. NBAA-BACE is held annually by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). NBAA’s 2016 convention took place from Nov. 1-3 at the Orange County Convention Center, and at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL).
This year’s convention was particularly important for the NJ-based aviation company because it recently opened a new FBO and hangar on the West Coast. The company took the opportunity of being in front of industry peers to announce that Meridian Hayward is now open for business at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) in Hayward, CA. In addition to press coverage in the convention dailies and print advertisements in major industry publications, the company also held an exciting and well-attended raffle at its booth to help generate the buzz behind Hayward. In addition, Meridian HWD t-shirts were given out to 150 lucky recipients.
The new facility features the services and amenities that discerning passengers and flight crews should expect to find when traveling through a Meridian FBO, including professionally-trained customer service and line service teams, an elegant main lobby, business center, conference room, pilot briefing area, pilot lounge, coffee bar, kitchen/catering area, sleep room, shower and locker room, rental cars, and crew cars.
EPIC Fuels, a leading fuel supplier in the general and commercial aviation industries, is the branded fuel supplier for Meridian Hayward. The company offers the highest quality jet and avgas, and the EPIC card is proudly accepted at this location.
A great location for business and charter aircraft, Meridian Hayward is located at an airport with no curfew and, like Teterboro, is a General Aviation-specific airport, with no commercial airline traffic. This initial opening features a newly constructed 6,300 square foot terminal with support offices, a 30,000 square foot hanger and 3.5 acres of ramp area.
Additional phases of construction are planned, and will include a second 12,000 square foot terminal, two 40,000 square foot hangers and an additional seven acres of ramp space. The facility will serve as a West Coast base for Meridian Air Charter and Meridian Aircraft Management. Aircraft maintenance support is also available.
While the FBO is now officially operational, Meridian Hayward will be celebrating its Grand Opening on December 15, 2016.
Ken Forester, CEO, was at the event and had this to say, “We are extremely pleased to be able to announce the opening of our new FBO, Meridian Hayward, at this year’s NBAA Convention. We are now pumping fuel and ready to serve our customers at Hayward Executive Airport. Our team is excited to share this news with our aviation partners and friends in the industry, and we hope they will help us to spread the word that we have a new location in the San Francisco Bay area. The genesis of this project began four years ago, and now it’s no longer a vision, but a reality. Hayward is the keystone of our long-term growth strategy, which also includes a new hangar project happening in Teterboro, and the continued expansion of our charter fleet.”
NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition is the country’s sixth-largest trade show, and the largest in the world focused on business aviation. Next year’s convention will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, from October 10-12, 2017.
Meridian's exhibit was among 1,100+ exhibitors at NBAA2016 in Orlando, FL. The booth is 15' tall, covers 400 sq ft of floor space, has a reception counter, two kiosks with monitors, and a large conference room.
Meridian’s exhibit was among 1,100+ exhibitors at NBAA2016 in Orlando, FL. The booth is 15′ tall, covers 400 sq ft of floor space, has a reception counter, two kiosks with monitors, and a large conference room.