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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 General

Meridian Names Third Generation Family Member to Board of Directors

Kelly Forester Pappas

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that Kelly Forester Pappas is joining its Board of Directors. Pappas, who for the past eight years has strategically focused on Aviation Sales and Business Development, specifically in the Bay area, has been involved with the business since she was a teenager, when she worked as a Customer Service Representative.
Meridian, the longest-established FBO and maintenance operation at Teterboro Airport, evolved from the business founded by Pappas’ grandfather, John Kenneth Forester (known as Ken Senior), in 1946. Today, the company operates FBOs at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey and Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) in the San Francisco Bay area, as well as an FAA-approved Part 145 full-service maintenance operation that includes an in-house parts department and detailing team. The company recently sold its charter and aircraft management business to Jet Linx, a leading private jet management and jet card membership company.
“The realignment of our business allows us to focus on the foundation the company was built on and gives us greater opportunity to grow our FBO and aircraft maintenance businesses,” said Ken Forester, CEO and owner of Meridian. “We understand that maintaining a 100 percent customer-centric approach is critical. Streamlining our business model will help us achieve this goal and position us well into the future.”
“I’m very proud to be part of an organization that prioritizes customers’ needs first and foremost. I have been humbled by the hard work and dedication of Meridian employees who share in this goal every day. It is an honor to work alongside them,” says Kelly Pappas. “Moving forward, we are committed to continuing to set the bar for excellent customer service in this rapidly changing industry. Our objective is to exceed expectations and remain an industry leader for years to come.”
One initiative that Kelly strongly advocates is the integration of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into corporate aviation. “I am passionate about finding ways to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and SAF will help us get there”, Pappas adds. “Meridian can be an industry leader by offering SAF to our customers, which is critical at this point in time.”
Pappas currently works at Meridian’s Santa Rosa regional office, which she opened in 2012. She is an active participant in the Northern California Business Aviation Association and Women in Aviation International. Pappas is a graduate of Yale University and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
“We are excited about this next chapter in our history,” Forester added. “As we continue to grow our business, we are proud of the fact that in addition to the hands-on approach we as owners of the business take, we also have one of the longest-tenured teams in the industry. I know Kelly understands that component of our business well, and I am pleased that she will be serving a key role as we move into the future.”

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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.

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

Jet Linx Purchases Meridian Aircraft Management & Air Charter

Jet Linx, the leading private jet management and jet card membership company in the United States, continued its strategic expansion in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state region by acquiring Meridian’s Aircraft Management and Air Charter business. Meridian is a full-service private aviation company headquartered at Teterboro Airport. While the terms of the transaction were not disclosed, the acquisition encompasses a fleet of 23 long range and short range private jet aircraft including Bombardier Global Express 6000 and 5000s, Gulfstream G550s, GVs, G450s, GIVSPs, Dassault Falcon 7Xs and 2000s, and Embraer Phenom 300s, among others.  Upon closing the transaction, Jet Linx will become the largest private jet management and jet card membership company in the tri-state region and the second-largest aircraft management company in the United States with over 120 aircraft and 19 locations nationwide (FAA Part 135).
“This acquisition is a significant step in our strategic plan as we continue to enhance our fleet and flight operations serving the New York tri-state area and further develop the Company as the leader in private jet travel. It could also not be better timed as it follows the grand opening of our flagship private terminal at Teterboro Airport last September,” said Jamie Walker, President & CEO of Jet Linx Aviation. “It is an honor to have purchased Meridian Aircraft Management and Air Charter, one of the most admired, respected and trusted operators in the private jet industry.  Like Jet Linx, Meridian is a family-owned business, and it will be our commitment and our privilege to continue their legacy of excellence, safety and service. This exemplifies and underscores our unwavering commitment to provide the highest standards of excellence and the finest service experience not only to our clients in the New York tri-state area, but nationwide, as Teterboro is the busiest private aviation airport in the U.S.”
With heritage that dates back to 1946 at Teterboro Airport, Meridian is a full-service Fixed Base Operator (FBO) renowned for its enduring reputation for providing the New York metropolitan area with private aircraft fueling, hangaring, maintenance, management and charter services. Meridian has earned numerous industry awards and accolades over the years for its FBO services.  As the longest continuously operating private aviation services company in the New York metropolitan area, Meridian will continue operating its FBO and aircraft maintenance businesses at Teterboro Airport and Hayward Executive Airport in California.
“Jet Linx aligns perfectly with Meridian’s values, culture and commitment to safety, and we could not be happier to have partnered with Jet Linx to purchase our aircraft management and charter business,” said Ken Forester, Owner & CEO of Meridian. “It was important for us to find the right company who would be able to take our existing aircraft management and charter business to the next level, and Jet Linx was the obvious choice. We are excited to continue supporting Jet Linx, and our former aircraft management and charter customers, through our FBO and aircraft maintenance businesses going forward.”
Jet Linx has become the leading private jet management and Jet Card company in the United States due to its unique and innovative business model.  The company offers a far more personalized approach to guaranteed private jet travel solutions through individual, city specific, local operations.  Jet Linx is committed to the highest and most stringent safety standards in the private aviation industry, and to the managed, strategic and sustained growth in private jet aircraft, jet card members and locations across the country.
2019 was a year of unprecedented achievement for Jet Linx; it established six new private base terminal locations across the country, and forged two groundbreaking and unprecedented partnerships – one with Forbes Travel Guide and the other with Southwest Airlines and CAE.  The collaboration with Forbes Travel Guide – the world renowned and only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas – made Jet Linx the “Official Private Aviation Company” of Forbes Travel Guide as well as the first and only company in private aviation to establish and implement Forbes Travel Guide’s preeminent and unparalleled standards of service excellence.  Jet Linx also collaborated with Forbes Travel Guide in the creation of customized, proprietary Jet Linx standards of service excellence for private aviation.  Jet Linx joined forces with Southwest Airlines and CAE to create a groundbreaking pilot cadet program which provides a unique career pathway and lifecycle solution for pilots, facilitating entry into the aviation industry and providing opportunities for pilots to elevate and extend their careers.  The company also acquired Elliott Aviation’s Aircraft Management & Charter business in Minneapolis, and following the purchase of Meridian Aircraft Management and Air Charter, the Company intends to make additional acquisitions of other respected and established private jet management companies as an integral part of its growth strategy and continued expansion across the United States.
 

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General

Meridian Exhibits at Regional Forum in West Palm Beach

Team Meridian is ready to welcome visitors to their exhibit at the NBAA Regional Forum in West Palm Beach, FL.
(l to r): Jeremy Ojerholm, Patti Sullivan, Kirk Stephen, Estrella Montero, Ken Forester, and Susan Forester.

On Wednesday, January 29, Meridian sent a team of six associates to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to represent the company at the first NBAA Regional of the year. The event proudly hosted a record-breaking 3,000 attendees, making this the most-attended regional to be hosted in West Palm Beach.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to 2020,” said Dina Green, NBAA vice president of events. “We had nearly 30 aircraft and vehicles on display, in addition to more than 150 indoor exhibitors. We’ve been hosting this forum at Atlantic Aviation for several years, and it’s always a great event to showcase the latest trends and technologies shaping business aviation.”

In welcoming attendees to the show, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen took a moment to remember basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others who died in a helicopter accident on Jan. 26. “Our community can pay tribute to Kobe and the others by making sure we learn from the accident,” he said. “We don’t know the cause now, but we will, and whatever it is, we will make sure it is something we can isolate, understand and learn from, because one thing our industry has always done is learn from the mistakes of the past.”

Throngs of attendees gather inside the hangar to meet with exhibitors and to network with fellow business aviation professionals.

Pointing out that the start of 2020 marks the beginning not only of a year, but a new decade, Bolen said, “This will be one of the most significant decades in the history of aviation and aerospace. Things are happening today at a pace we really haven’t seen at least since the dawn of the jet age.”

Citing technologies like drones, urban air mobility, supersonic jets and more, Bolen said innovation will allow business aviation to grow and prosper. While there have been events around the world featuring sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), most recently in Davos, Bolen noted the industry will take another step forward by holding a summit in March that will look at how stakeholders can increase the production and use of SAF.

This is a great industry, and it’s an industry in an age of innovation,” he said. “This is an exciting time for business aviation. Innovation is all around us, but among our key challenges will be our ability to bring in young, excited, talented, innovative, passionate young people. Can we attract them? Can we retain them?” Bolen noted that nearly 200 students were in attendance for the 2020 PBI event. “It’s an extraordinary industry that does capture the imagination of a lot of people,” he said.

The opening session concluded with a scholarship presentation from Dreams Soar’s Shaesta Waiz – who in 2017 became the youngest woman to fly solo around the globe in a single-engine aircraft. The inaugural Jimmie J. Norman Memorial Scholarship was presented to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Lauren Abernathy.

The West Palm Beach Forum also featured education sessions on the most pressing topics in business aviation: ADS-B implementation, career paths in business aviation, tax benefits and limitations for aircraft operators, improving safety through aircraft data and financing options for aircraft.

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 constant activity at the Meridian booth throughout the entire event. Kirk Stephen, Director of Marketing, said, “West Palm is a must-attend event for us. We do a lot of business in South Florida, so it makes sense for us to be here and meet with many of our customers, vendor-partners, and friends in person.”

The static display enjoyed great weather for showing its vast array of
business aircraft models.

The next NBAA Regional Forum will be held at San Jose International Airport (SJC) in San Jose, CA, on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Meridian will be exhibiting, and we are looking forward to seeing you there!

Categories
General

Meridian Names Patti Ann Sullivan Vice President of Aircraft Management

Meridian is pleased to announce that Patti Ann Sullivan has been named Vice President of Aircraft Management. In her new position, Ms. Sullivan will oversee the sales of aircraft management services and will be responsible for driving the growth of the aircraft management business. Ms. Sullivan has extensive business aviation experience, specializing in aircraft banking, finance and sales. She will be based at the company’s headquarters at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, NJ.

“I am delighted to welcome Patti to the Meridian team,” says Emil Iannone, Meridian’s Chief Operating Officer. “Her background and experience in multiple disciplines within the industry will be a definite asset as we continue to grow our aircraft management business and, more importantly, strengthen our client relationships.”

Ms. Sullivan’s responsibilities include developing and visiting prospective new clients, negotiating aircraft management agreements, coordinating with other Meridian departments to ensure a smooth transition from the sales process to in-service operation and managing regional sales executives. In addition, she will focus on the needs of existing customers, offering counsel on the optimum operational and financial strategies to maximize the value and efficiency of their aircraft ownership. Ms. Sullivan will also be an active presence in the industry, representing the company at various events and association meetings.

“I am delighted to join such a well-respected organization as Meridian,” says Sullivan. “Meridian is a leader in the business aviation industry and is well-known for its outstanding customer satisfaction and commitment to excellence. I look forward to contributing to the continued growth of our aircraft management business.”

Prior to joining Meridian, Ms. Sullivan was Executive Vice President of Elevate Jet, an aircraft management and charter company in Bedford, MA. She also worked for Executive Jet Management (EJM), serving as an East Coast Vice President of Aircraft Management and Owner Services, successfully increasing the company’s market share in the region. Prior to EJM, Ms. Sullivan held several positions of increasing responsibility in the aviation finance sector with a variety of leading institutions, including Key Bank and Textron Financial. She also has extensive experience providing strategic, operational and financial advisory services to aircraft management, charter and executive aviation enterprises.

Ms. Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a minor in Finance from Boston University. She has earned Dale Carnegie Certificates in Sales, Presentation and Leadership Effectiveness. She is a past Board Member of NAFA, MBAA and NARA (associate) and is a member of NBAA, HAI, NATA and IAWA.

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General

Meridian Joins “Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch” in Fighting Hunger

Over the month of October, we donated $1,770.00 of our lunch money to the Bag a Lunch, Help a Bunch campaign, sponsored by Table to Table. Meridian has been a perennial contributor to the community-based food rescue program that collects prepared and perishable food and delivers it to organizations serving the hungry in Northern New Jersey. The campaign, which was started 20 years ago, has delivered over 122 million meals!

During the Bag a Lunch campaign, we ask Meridian employees to donate what they would normally spend on lunch for a day. Donating to the campaign is voluntary and the donation amounts are of each individual’s choosing. After the donations are tallied at the end of the program, the company matches everyone’s contribution, effectively doubling the donation.

Last year’s campaign raised $1,614.00 through Meridian employee donations and the matching contribution from the company. That amount was enough to feed over 15,000 families.

Kelly Manzo, HR Coordinator, is again the Meridian Team Captain, responsible for promoting the program at the company and coordinating with her counterparts at Table to Table. Ms. Manzo says, “The Bag a Lunch program is a great way for employees to help others in our local communities who are less fortunate. By donating what we would normally spend on lunch, each person’s individual contribution will double with the gift matching program, and ultimately have a much greater impact on those who need it most.” To help raise awareness of the campaign, brown lunch bags are placed in several locations throughout the FBO, including the Break Room, Line Service, Jet Center, and Charter areas.

Every day, Table to Table picks up fresh, wholesome food that otherwise would have been discarded, and delivers it safely to non-profit organizations such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters and centers, programs for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, and programs that assist the working poor that serve meals to the hungry in Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, and Essex counties.

With five refrigerated vehicles and dedicated drivers, Table to Table picks up food from a wide range of food establishments each day. This food is delivered on the day it is donated, avoiding the need for warehouse facilities and keeping Table To Table’s costs limited to the operation of the vehicles.

In 2018 alone, Table To Table was able to redistribute enough food to provide 18 million meals to hungry families in Northern New Jersey.

For more information or to make additional donations, please visit: www.tabletotable.org

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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

Meridian Supports the 35th Annual Teterboro Airport Community Benefit Fund Scholarship Golf Classic

The Meridian team poses on our sponsored hole. (LTR: Nehemias Camacho, Freddy Dressel, Chris Battaglia, and Kirk Stephen)

On Monday, September 23, Meridian sent a foursome to play in the 35th Annual Teterboro Airport Community Benefit Fund Scholarship Golf Classic, held at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, NJ.

The proceeds from the event go to the Teterboro Airport Community Benefit Fund, which contributes to several scholarships in aviation. Overall, the event generates about $12,000 a year for local high school graduates.

Meridian continued its support this year by sponsoring the 4th hole on the Banks course. The historic Banks Course was designed by Charles H. Banks, one of America’s celebrated “Golden Age” architects.

While our team didn’t take a place on the podium this year, we had a great time playing and participating in the festivities. Meridian is proud to show our continued support of the event and of our Teterboro community.

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Charter Operations Charter Sales General

Meridian Celebrates 30 Years of Jet Charter

The flight operations team of Meridian Air Charter poses with the original air carrier certificate to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Meridian is proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its jet charter business. General Aviation Flying Service, as the charter company was originally known, was formed in 1983. In September 1989, it added its first jet, a Citation SII, to its fleet of piston aircraft. In 1986, General Aviation Flying Service became Million Air Charter Teterboro when its FBO joined the aviation franchise. In 2004, the company evolved into Meridian Air Charter, as it is known today.

“We officially entered the jet age in 1989 when the owner of one of the piston aircraft we managed acquired a jet,” said Ken Forester, Meridian’s CEO. “From there we continued to grow and add additional aircraft, as well as open our FAA-approved repair station.”

In 1997, the company began operating a Gulfstream II, marking its entry into the large-cabin charter business. Today, Meridian Air Charter has a diverse fleet of aircraft, ranging from ultra-long-range to midsize and light jets. “We’ve seen a lot of growth over the last 30 years, both with our charter division and with the rest of the company,” added Forester. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to serving our customers for many years to come.”

Meridian currently manages a wide range of aircraft types that are available for private charter. Our extensive fleet includes the Global 5000, Gulfstream G550, Falcon 7X, Gulfstream GIV-SP, Falcon 900EX EASy, Challenger 650, Challenger 605, Challenger 604, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Gulfstream G200, and Hawker 900XP. In addition, other aircraft types are available through Meridian’s extensive network of qualified operators.