Tag: fbo

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Executive Terminal (FBO) Hayward Meridian Hayward

Avfuel Welcomes Meridian Hayward (KHWD) to Premier FBO Network

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.

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General Meridian Hayward Meridian Teterboro

Meridian Receives High Marks in Industry Surveys – Hayward and Teterboro FBOs Honored as Company Celebrates 75th Anniversary

Meridian Teterboro was rated the #1 FBO in the New York City (NYC) metro area by the readers of Aviation International News (AIN) in its annual survey. Meridian was the only FBO at Teterboro Airport and the NYC metro area to be ranked in the top 10% of FBOs in the Americas. Meridian TEB was highly ranked for its pilot amenities and customer service as well. Professional Pilot’s (ProPilot) annual PRASE Survey also placed Meridian as the #1 FBO at Teterboro, and among the top ten FBOs in the US.
Meridian is unique in that it is the only FBO at TEB to operate under the same ownership since 1946. That legacy and experience has contributed to the success of its Hayward FBO, which was ranked among the top FBOs for the first time this year. AIN readers gave Meridian Hayward high marks, placing it in the top five FBOs in the West Region and one of the best FBOs in the greater San Francisco area. Additionally, the AIN survey recognizes those individual FBO employees who go “Above and Beyond”, and we are proud that HWD’s Jenny Deitschman, Customer Service Representative (CSR), was included on this year’s list.
“We are honored to be counted among the top FBOs on the West Coast,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Hayward’s General Manager. “Since our opening in 2016, our team has worked hard to provide outstanding service to each and every customer. I’m especially pleased to see Jenny recognized for her efforts as an outstanding CSR.” Jenny has been with Meridian Hayward since it opened for business.
Meridian was ranked as the 4th best independent FBO by ProPilot, and was the only FBO in the Northeast to be recognized in this category. The 2021 ranking is several spots ahead of last year, and we are proud that our continued commitment to striving to be the best resonated with customers.
“It’s very rewarding to know that our efforts are appreciated. We are honored to be recognized for our legacy of exceptional service,” said Ken Forester, Meridian’s CEO. “We sincerely thank our customers for their support and confidence in us. After 75 years, Meridian’s mission and focus are still the same-putting each customer first and delivering a truly personalized experience to everyone we serve.”

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Executive Terminal (FBO) Hayward

Meridian FBOs Recognized as Safety 1st Clean Certified

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that it has received Safety 1st Clean registration from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) for both its Teterboro (TEB) and Hayward (HWD) FBO facilities. The recognition demonstrates Meridian’s commitment to following best practices and guidelines from both the NATA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) around cleaning, disinfecting and hygiene, as well as ongoing education and training. In addition, conformance to the Safety 1st Clean standard requires that the organization have a Hazard Communication Plan in place, which Meridian already does as part of its IS-BAH accreditation.
“NATA developed the Safety 1st Clean standard to provide general guidance on facility cleaning, disinfecting and facility operations in response to the pandemic,” said Carlos Rodriguez, HWD General Manager. “While we were already aggressively following best practices and guidelines, as well as our own strict procedures, it is important that we demonstrate our conformance and commitment to the highest possible standards to our customers, employees and the public at large. Earning the Safety 1st Clean standard lets customers know they can expect the best and safest protocols when they come to Meridian.” A complete list of Safety 1st Clean FBOs is on the NATA website.
Meridian has been a participant in NATA’s overall Safety 1st program for over 20 years. While the Safety 1st program actually certifies individuals at the locations, as part of the Safety 1st Qualified location program, FBOs and ground handlers that consistently maintain their employee’s training status are recognized as Safety 1st certified. Meridian is proud to be consistently rated Safety 1st.
Meridian TEB and HWD are also International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) accredited for adherence to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices in the preparation of handling business aircraft. The standard was designed to promote the use of industry best practices blended through a progressive Safety Management System (SMS) for FBOs and Business Aircraft Handling Agencies. Both FBOs currently hold IS-BAH Stage 1 certification.
Achieving industry recognition offers added benefits beyond demonstrating Meridian’s commitment to excellence and safety, notes Victor Rodriguez, TEB Line Service & FBO Safety Training Coordinator/Interim Line Service Manager, who spearheaded TEB’s registration efforts for both IS-BAH and Safety 1st Clean. “These standards help us with the overall framework to benchmark our efforts and measure overall performance,” he states. “It ensures we are following the guidelines, meeting and exceeding requirements and maintaining the highest standards.”
Customers with maintenance or detailing needs can expect the same level of safety and cleanliness at the Meridian Jet Center in Teterboro. The full-service maintenance facility is an FAA Part 145 and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified repair station, as well as an authorized Honeywell Service Center.
Meridian’s in-house detailing team currently provides multiple layers of disinfecting and cleaning services to protect travelers as well as our own personnel. In addition to decontaminating the aircraft with our ionization unit, they also clean the entire aircraft interior by wiping down and disinfecting all areas, followed by a long-lasting anti-microbial barrier treatment. Meridian is proud to strictly adhere to comprehensive protocols as well as those outlined by the Safety 1st Clean standard.

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Customer Service Executive Terminal (FBO) General Line Service

Meridian Teterboro Honored Among Best FBOs

Ramp view of Meridian Teterboro, located at Teterboro Airport (KTEB).

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that it has again received recognition as one of the nation’s top FBOs in the industry’s leading surveys. The company’s Fixed Base Operator (FBO) in Teterboro (TEB) was voted in the top 5% of all US FBOs, as well as the #1 FBO in the Northeast and at TEB, by readers of Aviation International News (AIN) in its annual FBO survey. For the second year in a row, Meridian was the airport’s only FBO to rank in the top 5% of the AIN survey. The rankings are a result of customer feedback on facilities, passenger amenities, pilot amenities, line service and customer service representatives (CSRs), which are averaged to reach the FBOs’ final scores.
Meridian was also recognized as a top FBO by Professional Pilot’s (ProPilot) annual PRASE Survey. In addition to being rated one of the best independent FBOs in the country, the PRASE Survey ranked Meridian as the #1 FBO at TEB, the NYC Metro area and the Northeast. The survey once again recognized two of Meridian’s CSRs as among the best in the nation. For the 14th year in a row, Betsy Wines and Victor Seda have both been ranked in the top 5 for their “can-do attitude” and their strong commitment to excellence. Meridian is also proud to acknowledge that Betsy has been the #1 CSR in the PRASE Survey 19 times. AIN also quoted Betsy in a feature called Advice from CSR All Stars for her view on what makes a good customer service representative.
“Every member of our team, from Line Service to Security to our CSRs, is committed to delivering excellence each and every day,” said Steve Chandoha, Meridian Teterboro President. “Our people are the difference and I think our customers value that. I’m very proud of Betsy and Victor and the entire staff at Meridian Teterboro.”
“We sincerely thank our customers for their support and confidence in us,” said Ken Forester, Meridian’s CEO. “We know customers have options when flying into Teterboro, and I am proud of the entire team who make every pilot and passenger feel welcomed. We look forward to continuing to serve you for many years to come. We are committed to safe and healthy operations during this challenging time and have enhanced our procedures and implemented strict precautions at our facilities and onboard aircraft. Meridian is here for you and we continue to support our customers.”

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General

Meridian Proudly Participates in Holiday Gift Drive

Representatives from the Center of Hope and Safety, the Port Authority of NY & NJ, and tenants of Teterboro Airport stand proudly behind a display of the many donations received for this year’s annual gift drive.

With every holiday season comes the Center for Hope and Safety’s Annual Gift Drive. This year marked the 26th anniversary since the inception of this important event. Meridian, along with other Teterboro Airport-based tenants, gathered together to donate new toys, games, clothes, shoes, gift cards, and other gifts for those in need.

On Friday, December 13, Meridian drove a van filled with boxes containing a variety of donated gifts over to the AvPorts Administrative Building. The Center for Hope and Safety was very appreciative of the airport’s combined effort and commitment to the community. Meridian employees generously donated toys, food items, kitchen appliances, electronics, and apparel.

The Center for Hope and Safety’s mission is to assist women and children who are victims of domestic violence, including emotional, economic, sexual and physical abuse. The agency provides emergency and transitional housing, emotional support, and a diversified continuum of services focused on safety, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. Through community partnerships, the Center for Hope and Safety raises awareness, provides services, and educates community members about domestic violence.

Meridian is proud to participate in such an impactful campaign that delivers holiday cheer to local families. Together, we can all make a difference by continuing the tradition of helping these families by providing them with much-needed donations for a warm and loving holiday. Remember, the greatest gift of all is giving!

For more information about the Center for Hope and Safety, please visit their website at http://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/

Thank you to everyone who donated!

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General

Meridian Hosts Pilot Appreciation Day

Meridian Hayward hosted the local Civil Air Patrol (CAP) East Bay Cadet Squadron 18’s Pilot Appreciation Day on Saturday, November 2. The event was a mixture of pilot appreciation, ground and safety training for cadets, and educational classes along with food and fun. The event had around 60 attendees

The California Civil Air Patrol serves as an auxiliary of the US Air Force. They normally conduct search and rescue, humanitarian, and counter-drug missions, and are also credited with sinking two enemy submarines during World War II.

The CAP also hosts a cadet program that provides the opportunity to participate in special activities or even solo fly an airplane for the first time. The training that the cadets receive is so comprehensive, that any cadet that reaches officer status could join the US Air Force two ranks higher than a normal recruit!

To learn more about the California Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, visit their website at https://www.cawgcap.org/ .

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Customer Service Executive Terminal (FBO) General

Meridian Celebrates Victor Seda’s 20-Year Anniversary

On August 19, Meridian celebrated Victor Seda’s 20-year anniversary with the company. Victor joined Meridian as a Customer Service Representative (CSR) in 1999. In 2008, he was promoted to Customer Service Manager and now supervises a staff of 22 colleagues.

Victor, along with the Meridian team, celebrates his 20-year anniversary.

Over the years, Victor has received numerous accolades for his outstanding customer service. He has consistently been ranked in the top of this category by Professional Pilot (ProPilot) Magazine in its annual PRASE Survey. Joining him in this honor is our own Betsy Wines. Together, both of them have been named among the top five CSRs in the country by ProPilot for the last 12 years!
Victor came to Meridian from the restaurant industry. He says he loves aviation and really loves working at Meridian. “Working here is awesome,’ he says. “Everyone is like family and I look forward to coming to work every day.”
Victor says he really enjoys the interaction he has with people in his job. It can be very busy at times, and he says that’s what he really enjoys. “I like being at the front desk and dealing with our customers. There’s always something different going on and I am certainly never bored!”
Meridian is incredibly proud of Victor, and all our dedicated Customer Service staff. We’re so glad for your long tenure here and all of the years you have represented Meridian.
Congratulations Victor!
Victor’s celebration was colorful and lively.

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General

Facility Maintenance Technician Petrika Robo Retires

Petrika Robo (center) is surrounded by colleagues at his retirement celebration.

Petrika Robo, Meridian’s longtime Facility Maintenance Technician, said his final goodbyes today to friends and colleagues before heading off to a well-deserved retirement after 11 fruitful years with the company.
Petrika has been an integral part of Meridian’s Building Maintenance team. He joined the company in 2007, moving east from Chicago. During his tenure, there were five members that worked in the department and, according to Petrika, their days and evenings were filled with a variety of big projects. The department is responsible for everything from the building exteriors to the hangar floors, which cover over 100,000 square feet!
Petrika is originally from Albania. He immigrated to the US in 1995 with his family, which includes his wife and two children. He said that he wanted his family to have more opportunities by coming here, and by all accounts he and his family have thrived. In fact, he recently celebrated the birth of his second grandchild. Petrika is very proud of his family, and was grateful that they had made the move with him to the US.
One of the things he liked most about working at Meridian was how well everyone gets along. “Meridian is also my family,” he says. “Working here was like being part of another family.”
The colorful retirement cake is looking quite delicious!

“Every day was different,” Petrika says, “with numerous projects and tasks in need of  completion. The winter was always the toughest time of year because we needed to make sure the ramp and other exterior areas were free of snow and kept as clear as possible, in addition to the department’s on-going responsibilities.”
Meridian works hard to ensure that the FBO and other parts of the Teterboro facility are always kept in excellent condition, and that employees and visitors alike feel comfortable here. The Building Maintenance team does an outstanding job in making sure that the facility operations at Teterboro run flawlessly each and every day. On his last day, Petrika expressed his gratitude for being part of this dedicated team and accomplishing everything they have done to make our facility shine.
We wish him all the best as he begins his well-earned retirement!
Colleagues from around the company gather together for some lunch while saying their goodbyes.

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General

Meridian Holds First Town Hall of 2019


The Management team at Meridian held its first Town Hall meeting of the year on Wednesday, March 20.  The meeting was hosted by Emil Iannone, Director of Operations, who made the session available to all employees, including those based locally at the Teterboro office and those offsite who were able to call-in remotely.
These meetings provide employees with an informative venue to hear updates about company performance, afford a glimpse into future projects, and offer a unique opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
A few highlights include the upcoming makeover of our Teterboro lobby, a redesign of our IT and Human Resources’ offices, and the growing success of Meridian Hayward, which has improved significantly over last year.  Steve Chandoha, President of Meridian Teterboro, provided updates about FBO performances in both Teterboro and Hayward.  Dennis O’Connell, President of Meridian Air Charter, offered recent insights about Air Charter, Aircraft Management, and Jet Maintenance.
Our CEO, Ken Forester, wrapped up the session by elaborating on some of the key topics and thanking everyone for their continued efforts and hard work.  The next Town Hall meeting will be held at the end of the 2nd Quarter.

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Executive Terminal (FBO)

Meridian Voted Among Top FBOs in 2018

Meridian Teterboro was again voted among the top FBOs in 2018 according to several industry surveys.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that it again received top industry recognition in 2018. The company’s Fixed Base Operator (FBO) in Teterboro was again voted the top FBO in the Northeast by readers of Aviation International News (AIN) and by registered members of FltPlan.com in their 2018 FBO surveys. Readers of Professional Pilot (ProPilot) once again recognized two of Meridian’s customer service representatives among the top five in the nation in its annual PRASE Survey. The FBO was also ranked #1 at Teterboro Airport in all three surveys. These industry surveys are well-respected and the entire staff is honored to be recognized for its exceptional service.
Meridian was voted in the top 10% of all US FBOs in the AIN survey, while FltPlan.com’s Pilots’ Choice Awards rated Meridian #10 among its Top 50 US FBOs. ProPilot readers ranked Meridian among the top 15 Best US FBOs. The AIN and ProPilot surveys also measure individual customer service, and the company is proud to say that both Betsy Wines and Victor Seda continue to be recognized for their outstanding efforts. AIN recognized Betsy Wines for routinely going ‘Above & Beyond’, while ProPilot had both Wines and Seda ranked #1 and #5 respectively in the Best CSR category. This is the 18th time that Betsy has been voted Best CSR by ProPilot readers, and 2018 marks the 12th year in a row that Betsy and Victor have been together in the top of the category.
“Our entire team understands the importance of providing outstanding customer service in everything we do,” said Steve Chandoha, Meridian Teterboro President. “Every member of the team, from Line Service to Security to our CSRs, is committed to delivering excellence each and every day. Betsy and Victor exemplify these values with their strong work ethic and attention to detail. I am very proud of them, and the entire staff of Meridian Teterboro.”
“Meridian’s corporate culture is built on providing exceptional customer service,” said Betsy Wines, Vice President of Customer Service & Human Resources. “It is an honor to be recognized by our customers and industry colleagues for our commitment to excellence. We consider it a privilege to serve our customers and truly appreciate their recognition as the top FBO at Teterboro as well as one of the leading FBOs nationwide.”
“We are truly appreciative of being so favorably recognized in the industry’s annual FBO surveys,” added Ken Forester, Meridian CEO. “I am proud of the entire team that works to exceed expectations every day. We know customers have choices when they fly into Teterboro, and we are committed to making every pilot and passenger feel welcomed and well cared for when they arrive at Meridian.”