Categories
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.

Categories
Executive Terminal (FBO) Hayward

Meridian Hayward Renews CAA Preferred Status

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

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

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

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

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

Categories
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.”

Categories
General Hayward

Meridian Hayward Hosts Spring BBQ and Bay Cities 99s Annual Poker Run

Carlos Rodriguez, General Manger, shows off his cooking skills at Meridian’s first BBQ of the season.

On Saturday, June 2nd, Meridian embraced the beautiful spring weather by hosting its very first “Super Saver Saturday” with a barbeque at our Hayward facility. The purpose of this event was to show appreciation for our fellow Hayward Executive Airport (KHWD) based tenants by offering them exclusive price cuts on fuel every Saturday of the month! In addition, the tenants were able to experience a classic, fun-filled barbeque on our ramp. Attendees were also given the opportunity to tour our facility, experience the Meridian culture, and enjoy some good food.
Aside from our Super Saver Saturday, Meridian also hosted The Bay Cities 99s Annual Poker Run. The Oakland-based organization of women pilots is dedicated to the advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring its unique history. Every year the 99s host this poker run to benefit its scholarship fund which funds young individuals that share a passion for flight.
All in all, the day turned out to be a success for everyone. Attendees were able to enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, and a plethora of other dishes while soaking up the California sun. At one point the Meridian Hayward ramp had over 20 aircraft parked on it. The turnout was excellent for the Bay Cities 99s as well; they had a near-record attendance this year for the poker run.
Carlos Rodriguez, Meridian Hayward’s General Manager, who served as an on-site cook for the event, was pleased with how the day turned out. “This event was not only a success for Meridian, but also for the Bay Cities 99’s. It was a great turn-out and a fun event that provided a warm inviting atmosphere for all of our airport friends”.
The Forester Family enjoying the festivities of the Meridian Spring BBQ.

Special thanks to everyone who could make the event. We look forward to seeing you again in the near future!
For more information on the Bay Cities 99s please visit their website, baycities99s.org

Categories
General Hayward

Meridian Hayward Hosts SONO Meeting

Attendees networking at the Spring 2018 SONO Meeting.

On Thursday, May 10th, Meridian was pleased to host Southern & Northern California Schedulers and Dispatchers Group (SONO) first meeting of 2018. This special event was held at our Hayward facility, located at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD), just outside of San Francisco, CA. The purpose of this event was to create a valuable networking opportunity for business aviation professionals, and to provide an educational forum to enhance the knowledge and experience of our S&D community.
The fun evening featured a “World War II” theme that took guests back in time to the 1940’s. The event featured a variety of activities and exhibits, including The Cosmo Alleycats, a swing dance band with a vintage twist, authentic Mai Tai’s served in tiki drinking glasses, vintage aircraft and vehicles on display in the hangar, and replica war posters and bunting decorating the walls. About halfway through the evening, Jeff Bass, President & CEO of Hiller Aviation Museum located in San Carlos, CA, gave a very interesting and historical presentation about how the local aviation community was developed in California during WWII. At the end of the evening, a drawing took place that offered high-value prizes to several lucky winners.
Amber Salvatore, Charter Sales Executive, posing in front of a vintage Ford vehicle.

In total, there were about 200 guests in attendance, and so far, feedback about the event was extremely positive. Carlos Rodriguez, Meridian Hayward GM, had this to say, “We are honored that SONO had asked us to host their annual spring meeting. We knew that it would be a unique opportunity for us to showcase our new facility here in the Bay Area with a very targeted group of business aviation professionals. We hope that all of our guests and sponsors had enjoyed themselves, and we hope they continue to spread the word about our operations here. I think they will find that we have a lot to offer.”
To see photos of the event, please visit our online gallery: https://photos.meridian.aero/MeridianHWD-SONO-Sp18.
We would also like to give a special thanks to all of our sponsors. Without their support, this event would not have been possible.

Gold Sponsors

Airsure Limited
FlightSafety International
Signature Flight Support

Silver Sponsors

EPIC Fuels
Mente Group
International Trip Planning Services
Castle & Cooke Aviation
World Fuel Services
Eastern Aviation Fuels

Service Sponsors

Hiller Aviation Museum
Go Rentals

Categories
Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward Maintenance

Meridian Teterboro and Meridian Hayward Complete Gulfstream Service Training

The Meridian Line Service team at Hayward proudly displays their Gulfstream Service Training award.
The Meridian Line Service team at Hayward proudly displays their Gulfstream Service Training award.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed ground handling and servicing training for large cabin and mid-cabin Gulfstream aircraft. Gulfstream offers the training in partnership with FlightSafety International, who developed the curriculum for the training courses. The program is designed to raise awareness for aircraft safety during servicing and improve dispatch reliability. The training is available to fixed-base operators (FBOs) that handle Gulfstream aircraft.
The two online training courses are designed for line service technicians and cover large cabin Gulfstream (G350, G450, G500, G550, G650) and mid-cabin Gulfstream (G150, G200, G280) models.
“We are always seeking new ways to improve the customer experience,” said Jeff Torres, Line Service Training Coordinator. “Adding another level of expertise only adds to the quality service we offer our customers, and in this case, those who operate or travel on a Gulfstream model aircraft.”
Gulfstream recognizes those FBOs that have successfully reached 100% Line Technician completion of the training. Meridian Teterboro and Meridian Hayward have completed both the mid-cabin and large cabin training. Subjects covered in the training include aircraft parking, towing and mooring, water servicing, window cleaning, snow and ice removal, and a comprehensive tour of the aircraft itself.
“Meridian is dedicated to continuous improvement opportunities which help us maintain the highest standards,” adds Carlos Rodriguez, General Manager of Meridian Hayward. “We are pleased to have attained another endorsement which adds to our commitment to safety, reliability and outstanding customer service.”
TEB-Crew_
The Meridian Line Service team at Teterboro proudly displays their Gulfstream Service Training award.

Categories
Executive Terminal (FBO) General

Meridian Hayward’s First Ever Pot Luck Dinner

Hayward Employees enjoying their first ever Pot Luck meal.
Hayward Employees enjoying their first ever Pot Luck meal.

On Thursday, December 28, Meridian Hayward celebrated the holiday season with its 1st Annual Holiday Pot Luck Dinner.  The event, which is typically celebrated during the summer at Meridian Teterboro, is a fun event dedicated to bringing Meridian Hayward employees and their families together.  All of the food, drinks, and other items for the event were created and brought in by Meridian employees.  The meals included various mouth-watering, homemade dishes that represented a wide range of diverse foods and cultures.  The dinner, which began at 7:00 PM, and ended up being a great success.  It’s safe to say that everyone walked away feeling very content and very full.  Overall, it was a great way to end the week and prepare for the New Year ahead.  Special thanks to all those who helped prepare the food and to the family members who came to visit the facility.
Layout of delicious foods prepared by Meridian employees for the the Pot Luck.
Layout of delicious foods prepared by Meridian employees for the Pot Luck Dinner.

Categories
Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward

Meridian Names Carlos Rodriguez Hayward General Manager

Carlos Rodriguez has been named General Manager of Meridian Hayward.
Carlos Rodriguez has been named General Manager of Meridian Hayward.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company with locations at Teterboro Airport and Hayward Executive Airport, is pleased to announce that Carlos Rodriguez has been named General Manager of Meridian Hayward. Mr. Rodriguez had been serving as Operations Manager at the same location. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing and managing the daily operations of the facility, developing the customer base by communicating the intrinsic value of Hayward Executive Airport in the Bay Area, and assuring the service experience reflects Meridian’s high-quality standards. Carlos will be managing a staff of 18 employees.
Carlos began his career with Meridian in 2002 when the company was part of the Million Air franchise. Through hard work and determination, Carlos moved up through the ranks and became the company’s first Training & Safety Coordinator in February of 2013. In 2015, when Meridian decided to expand westward to Hayward, CA, a motivated leader was needed to head up operations and get things off the ground. Carlos had excelled in his role as a Training & Safety Coordinator at Meridian Teterboro and he had an interest in moving West, so it was a natural step to promote him to Operations Manager at Hayward.
After a successful launch in October 2016, the new FBO is continuing to grow under Carlos’ management. “In 2016, I was very excited to join Meridian’s expansion to the west coast as the company was in the process of laying the foundation of its culture in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area” said Mr. Rodriguez. “Now that we have been operational for almost a year, I look forward to taking the customer experience to the next level. As GM, I hope to incorporate everything I learned at Meridian Teterboro alongside the best team in the industry and deliver the same extraordinary service to our customers here. I am really excited to have the opportunity to grow our brand and service culture in the Bay Area.”
“I am extremely proud of Carlos and all he has accomplished over the last 14 years,” said Ken Forester, Meridian CEO. “He exemplifies what we stand for at Meridian. Our entire team is committed to giving our customers, both at Hayward and Teterboro, the very best service every day.”

Categories
General Hayward

Meridian Hayward Video Exemplifies Commitment to Service

An aerial view of Meridian Hayward at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD).
An aerial view of Meridian Hayward at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD).

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company with FBO locations at Teterboro Airport (TEB) and Hayward Executive Airport (HWD), is pleased to announce the launch of a new video featuring Meridian Hayward. The video is an introduction to its recently-opened facility situated on the San Francisco Bay in Northern California. It provides an overview of the terminal and hangar while also explaining the convenience and benefits of Hayward’s location for business aviation. The video gives a first-hand look at the vast array of services and amenities offered to passengers and pilots. The video’s length spans 2 minutes and 13 seconds.
Kirk Stephen, Director of Marketing, was excited about the launch. “This video offers viewers an in-depth perspective into our new FBO in Hayward, while also creating awareness to the advantages of flying into HWD. Our customers who know us from Teterboro will recognize that we have brought the same attention to detail and high level of customer service with us to Hayward. Whether you fly on the East Coast or West Coast, we want people to know that the Meridian brand is the same everywhere.”
The video can be viewed here: Meridian Hayward Welcome Video. 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).

Categories
Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward

Meridian Hayward Celebrates Grand Opening

Meridian Hayward celebrates its official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Meridian Hayward celebrates its official grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company headquartered at Teterboro Airport, is pleased to announce that its new fixed-base operation at Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward, California celebrated its much-anticipated Grand Opening last week. The world-class FBO facility has been open for business since October, but the company made its official debut with a festive, holiday-themed Grand Opening gala on the evening of Thursday, December 15.
Despite a heavy downpour of rain throughout the day, more than 150 guests came out to celebrate the special occasion, including the Hayward mayor and city council, airport executives, industry colleagues, and Meridian associates from both locations. The traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony was the keystone moment of the evening, with several notable speakers welcoming Meridian Hayward to the community. Ken Forester, Meridian CEO, accepted the honor of cutting the ribbon with large ceremonial scissors provided by the Hayward Chamber of Commerce.
In keeping with the holiday spirit, the company supported the Toys for Tots gift drive and asked guests to donate a new toy for underprivileged children. Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. By the end of the evening, five large boxes were filled with toys donated by generous attendees, making the drive a huge success.
The newly constructed Hayward facility features a 6,300 square foot terminal with support offices, a 30,000 square foot hangar and 3.5 acres of ramp area. The hangar can accommodate any corporate aircraft up to and including a Global Express and Gulfstream G650. Subsequent phases will add another 12,000 square feet of terminal space, provide an additional 80,000 square feet of hangar space and increase the ramp size by an additional seven acres. The facility will serve as the West Coast base for Meridian Air Charter and Meridian Aircraft Management. Aircraft maintenance support is also available.
The facility features the same services and amenities that discerning passengers and flight crews would expect to find when traveling through a Meridian FBO. Customer service and line service teams have been highly trained to move and handle aircraft and cater to the needs of customers. The terminal features 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.
Ken Forester, CEO, had this to say, “We are extremely pleased to be able to announce the grand opening of Meridian Hayward, our new FBO. This event marks the beginning of a new chapter for our company, and we are very excited to have been able to celebrate our grand opening during the holiday season with our colleagues and friends. We hope that our guests enjoyed themselves this evening, and will carry the message to others that we are here, we are open, and we are ready to serve.”
Meridian signed a 50-year lease with Hayward Executive Airport with plans to build a full-service facility and adjoining hangar at the airport in January 2015, and broke ground for the buildings in July 2015. 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.