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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) 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.

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward

Meridian Hosts 10th Annual Hayward Hero Dinner

The 10th Annual Hayward Hero Dinner was hosted in the Meridian Hayward hangar.

On Thursday, May 9, Meridian was proud to host the 10th Annual Hayward Hero Dinner, organized by the Hayward Hero Foundation.  The mission of this organization is to support student leadership & advancement programs within the Hayward educational community and to honor and celebrate the everyday heroes who go above and beyond for the betterment of the school and the students in Hayward.

In 2008, the HEROES campaign was launched by the Hayward Education Foundation to acknowledge those who believe that Hayward students deserve the best education possible.  The Hayward Education Foundation is an accredited non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping all Hayward students succeed by providing teachers with the resources necessary to support, enhance, enrich, and strengthen educational activities and experiences in ways that existing funding cannot.

Everyday, people make a commitment to show-up, lend a hand, mentor, coach, and make time for students in their community.  These selfless acts often go unnoticed and uncelebrated, yet the impact made is felt within each school and its community.  These everyday activities are molding the future by investing time in the Hayward schools and students. 

Every year, the organization asks each school in the Hayward community to choose a “Hero.”  A Hero is someone who exemplifies kindness, integrity, selflessness, and continually goes above and beyond their usual duties for the betterment of the school and the students.  From a volunteer, teacher, office worker, parent, coach, resource officer, to a custodian; a Hero is anyone who the school community feels should be recognized for their commitment, selflessness and significant contributions to the greater good of the students and education.

The “Hero Dinner” was the idea of community member and philanthropist, George Pacheco, who gathered support to honor Hayward’s Heroes during the Hayward Education Foundation’s annual fundraiser.  Unfortunately, most of the Heroes could not afford to attend the Gala, so Mr. Pacheco generously offered to take the Heroes to lunch. In 2009, he took 12 Heroes to lunch at Numinali’s, a neighborhood favorite located in a beautifully restored Victorian home.

Since then, the Hero Dinner has taken on a life of its own and has grown exponentially. Each year more people attend the dinner to celebrate and support their school’s Hero. In 2018, heroes from 41 school sites were honored in the Hayward community and had 700 people in attendance. Due to the growth, the Hayward Education Foundation felt that they could no longer host the dinner.  In early 2019, the Hayward Hero Foundation was formed to continue the tradition of honoring our everyday Heroes.

In order to accommodate the large number of attendees, the dinner was moved to the modern 30,000 sq. ft. Meridian hangar at Hayward Executive Airport.  The donation of the space was greatly appreciated by the Hayward Education Association because it allowed the ticket prices to remain low so more people could attend.  It should come as no surprise that Meridian Hayward General Manager, Carlos Rodriguez, was counted among those awarded.  Throughout his time as General Manager, Carlos has continuously supported the local Hayward community by hosting events and lending a hand.
Mr. Rodriguez was thrilled to be a recipient of this award, and said, “It’s important to be an active part of our community and to help out whenever we can.  I feel that everyone at Meridian has earned this honor because our entire Hayward team was involved.  I am truly humbled to have received this esteemed award, and I gladly accept it on behalf all of our employees here.”
The ceremony was a great success with over 700 attendees.  We hope to have the opportunity to host it again next year.  Congratulations to Carlos and the entire Hayward team!

To learn more about our Heroes, click here.

Meridian Hayward General Manager, Carlos Rodriguez, is proud to receive the Hayward Hero award.

 

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward Uncategorized

Meridian Hayward Voted CAA Preferred FBO at HWD

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that its West Coast fixed base operator (FBO), Meridian Hayward, was 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 “CAA Preferred” FBO represents a combination of good service and fair pricing for its members, serviced by the most highly qualified personnel and FBO management in the industry.
A CAA Preferred FBO must be voted into the program. In order to be eligible, it must receive at least 35 votes from participating CAA Fuel Program Members. If there are multiple FBOs at an airport, the one receiving the most votes is named the CAA Preferred FBO. The winner is then tendered a three-year, exclusive contract at its airport.
The voting period for HWD ran from October 1 – 7, 2018, and results were announced on Monday, October 8. Meridian Hayward General Manager, Carlos Rodriguez, was excited by the news: “The entire Meridian team is ecstatic over this designation because it will give us the opportunity to show loyal CAA members that we provide outstanding customer service at very competitive pricing. With both of our FBO locations CAA Preferred facilities, we can now fully serve our CAA customers on both coasts.”
Meridian Teterboro has been the CAA Preferred FBO at Teterboro Airport since 1996. The CAA Preferred FBO designation for Meridian Hayward will officially begin at HWD on November 1, 2018.
 

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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

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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

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General

Meridian Exhibits at 2018 West Palm Beach Regional

The Meridian Team working the booth at the NBAA Regional Forum at Palm Beach. (l to r) Bob Platten, Maria Bochman, Chris Battaglia, and Kirk Stephen.
The Meridian team working the booth at the NBAA Regional Forum in West Palm Beach.
(l to r) Bob Platten, Maria Bochman, Chris Battaglia, and Kirk Stephen.

Meridian is proud to have exhibited at the first NBAA Regional Forum of 2018 at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) on Wednesday, January 24. The company sent representatives from Charter Sales 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.
This year’s event was hailed as the best forum NBAA ever had in Palm Beach. In fact, the event drew over 2,700 attendees and over 150 exhibitors. Both of these numbers set new records for the Palm Beach Forum. In addition, 30 aircraft and ground support vehicles were on static display creating an exciting environment for both the attendees and the exhibitors. Mike Nichols, NBAA’s Vice President of Operational Excellence and Professional Development, said of the Jan. 24 event, “The energy was phenomenal, and people were excited to be here”.
The event also focused on what the professional aviation industry can expect going forward in 2018. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen reiterated that, “We’re going to pick up 2018 where we left off last year, and that is by asking everybody in our community to be active and engaged. As we’re entering a new year, and we’re excited about the opportunities it brings”. Aside from this, Bolen discussed other initiatives the NBAA would focus on in 2018 including:

  • ATC Privatization
  • Workforce Development
  • Ethical Business Practices
  • Airport Access
  • International Advocacy

All in all, the forum ended up being a tremendous success for the Meridian team. It provided an invaluable opportunity for us to meet current customers and connect with new ones, 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 the forum. Special thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by our booth and to those who made this event possible.
Meridian is planning to exhibit at the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Long Beach, CA from February 6-9, 2018. Be sure to stop by our booth (#1340). You won’t want to miss our big raffle where the Grand Prize Winner will receive a new Apple iPhone X! We look forward to seeing you there.
 

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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.

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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.”

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General Hayward

EMU Thanks Meridian Hayward with a Huey Helicopter Ride

Meridian Hayward employees about to enjoy a ride on a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter.
Meridian Hayward employees about to enjoy a ride on a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter. (l to r): Josh Moon, Jenny Deitschman, and Robert Lopez.

This past week, a few Meridian Hayward employees had the privilege of taking a ride in a Vietnam era assault helicopter known as the Huey. This was courtesy of EMU Inc., a non-profit organization that is located across from our facility in Hayward, CA. For the past year, we have been fueling their helicopter, and they took the time to thank our line service and customer service teams.
EMU derives its name from the radio call sign of the 135th Assault Helicopter Company, which was composed of both U.S. Army and Royal Australian Navy personnel. Because of this unique composition, the 135th was considered an Experimental Military Unit, hence its call sign EMU. Today, EMU Inc. is a non-profit organization that serves three important purposes:
1. To preserve the history of the Huey Helicopter and the memory of the men who served in the 135th Assault Helicopter Company and all AHCs in Vietnam.
2. To own and operate accurately recreated helicopters utilized by the 135th AHC during its service in Vietnam and to make these aircraft available to museums, air shows, public displays and for the support of Veterans affairs.
3. To recognize and offer emotional support to Combat Veterans with PTSD of all eras through comradery and contact with the Huey.
We at Meridian would first like to thank everyone who fought in the 135th Assault Helicopter Company for their service. We would also like to thank EMU for taking the time to recognize our employees and providing them with an experience they’ll never forget.