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.”
Tag: Teterboro
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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We are open.
Meridian Teterboro and Meridian Hayward are both open. We are part of the 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors identified at www.cisa.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors. We are providing all of our normal FBO, maintenance, cleaning, and flight operations services.
We are getting inquiries about New Jersey and California state travel restrictions and have provided the links below to help answer your questions.
New Jersey
New Jersey Order: https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-107.pdf
New Jersey State Covid-19 Information: https://covid19.nj.gov/
California
California Order: https://covid19.ca.gov/img/Executive-Order-N-33-20.pdf
California Essential Workers: https://covid19.ca.gov/img/EssentialCriticalInfrastructureWorkers.pdf
California Stay At Home Guidance: https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/
Our team is standing by, ready to help in any way we can.
Meridian Teterboro Customer Service
(201) 288-5040
TEB@meridian.aero
Meridian Hayward Customer Service
(510) 674-2500
HWD@meridian.aero
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!
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.
Over the summer, Meridian had four summer interns working in various departments throughout the company. What began as an informal opportunity in 1984 for some of our employees’ children to gain some work experience during the summer, has continued to be a popular program with many of our interns returning year after year. Some have even gone on to work full-time for Meridian. For example, Dennis O’Connell, Meridian Air Charter’s President, was Meridian’s first summer intern, working for line service. He recently celebrated 30 years with Meridian.
This year, the interns worked in the Charter, Human Resources, and Customer Service departments and performed their jobs admirably while learning vital skills in Microsoft Excel, customer relations, and business aviation in general. Aside from gaining valuable office experience, the interns learned about the interviewing and hiring process, as well as what to look for in companies and positions when they begin their job search.
This year, we’ve also expanded the program to our Hayward FBO. Samantha Martinez, who rotated between ramp and customer service roles, is Hayward’s first-ever intern!
Samantha learned important customer-relations skills and had the opportunity to get hands-on experience working on the ramp. By the end of her internship, she was given a unique opportunity into learning what makes an FBO run, and the skills to help it run smoothly.
All-in-all, this year’s summer internship program was a tremendous success! We’d like to thank our interns for their hard work, and a job well done!
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.”
“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!
On Wednesday, April 3, Meridian welcomed local representatives from all walks of business aviation to hold a roundtable discussion on the current state of the industry, and speculate on where it’s headed in the future.
The first topic was the “State of the Charter Industry” and the rising popularity of the ultra-long range jet. The attendees surmised that this is due to either business taking people further than before, or that larger jets are chosen to accommodate more passengers at once.
The industry’s efforts in recruiting young talent are beginning to bear signs of success. More and more young pilots and engineers are lining up to begin their careers in Business Aviation. The challenge we face now is getting them qualified to fly.
One issue that NATA Vice President, Ryan Waguespack, brought up was the increasing popularity of “Gray Charter” and the safety issues that accompany it. NATA has been working to advise and inform the FAA on what “Gray Charter” is, and what to look for to uncover it.
Finally, to wrap the meeting up, representatives discussed what they’ve been doing to reach out to the youth and get them interested in the industry. From career days to 5Ks, there were plenty of different community engagement methods being utilized.
Overall, the event was a tremendous success and all that attended left with a better picture of the industry, and a greater understanding of its future. We cannot wait to see what the next meeting holds in store for us.
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.
On Monday, November 12, 2018, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey held its 45th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner at the Fiesta Ballroom in Wood-Ridge, NJ. This tribute dinner honors local aviation pioneers and subsidizes the Hall of Fame and Museum, on Fred Wehran Drive in Teterboro, NJ. It is one of the museum’s biggest fund-raising events of the year.
Founded in 1972, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey preserves Garden State’s distinguished, two-century aviation and space heritage. Men and women, whose outstanding aeronautical achievements have brought worldwide recognition to the state, are inducted into the Hall of Fame every year.
Meridian is a proud supporter of the museum and attends the Hall of Fame induction dinner every year. Ken Forester Sr., who founded Meridian with Bob Hewitt back in 1946, was inducted in 2008. His son, Meridian CEO, Ken Forester Jr., was among those who attended the ceremony for the company.
This event recognized four individuals, connected to New Jersey, who have each contributed to advancing human flight.
Congratulations to all of the 2018 Aviation Hall of Fame Inductees!
You can read their bios below.
Emil Buehler (1899-1983)
The Emil Buehler Trust was established in 1984 to perpetuate the memory of Emil Buehler and his commitment to aviation science and technology. Aviation visionary, architect and engineer. Emil Buehler was born 1899 in Alpirsbach, a small town in Germany. He first experienced flying at age 17 as a pilot in the World War I German navy. Following the war, he graduated from the University of Stuttgart with degrees in architecture and engineering – moving to America within the year to pursue his career. A pioneer in aeronautics as well as a designer of buildings, Mr. Buehler was actively involved in many of the significant aviation events that took place in New Jersey during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. He operated his own school of aeronautics at New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport, ran a seaplane base on the Hudson River, and later designed and personally supervised the construction of an aviation facility at the Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale. His aeronautic involvements also included funding the development of a wind tunnel with Mach 3 capability – allowing the testing of space vehicles in design configurations at speeds up to three times the speed of sound. The internationally-known Emil Buehler Mach 3 wind tunnel is located at Rutgers, the State of New Jersey university, which in 1974 conferred on Emil Buehler the title of Eminent Engineer. His legacy of philanthropic commitment extends to a number of leading educational institutions, including Bergen Community College. Mr. Buehler died in 1983.
Linda Fritsche Castner (1947- )
Born and raised on Alexandria Field Airport, Linda Fritsche Castner’s legacy is as a pioneer in developing and implementing non-traditional outreach programs at public-use airports. She’s been a private pilot since she was 17 and is an Advanced Ground Instructor. Her company “Up, Up, and Away in Hunterdon, Inc.” provides innovative, aviation-themed content to participants as diverse as Pre-K students through corporate and academic professionals. Castner is a passionate advocate for the latent potential small airports have to become valued community assets for STEM education. Among Linda’s aviation accomplishments she is Co-Owner/Operator of Alexandria Field (N85), Master Aviation Educator (since 2015). The MAE is an achievement that few ever earn. She is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Association Board of Directors. Linda produced the Magic of Alexandria Balloon Festival for ten years (1989-1998) donating $210,000 to charities. She has written numerous articles and aviation program grants. The largest was in 2010 the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Education program grant for a total of $150,000 for which she served as the Program Director.
Huntley Lawrence (1963- )
Growing up in Queens, NY, next to LaGuardia Airport, Huntley developed a passion for aviation. As a young man, he attended an aviation program offered at Public School 127, and those early years were foundational in his lifelong passion for aviation. As a student at August Martin High School, Huntley selected a curriculum that provided him the opportunity to learn and excel in all aspects of aviation. His passion for aviation continued as a student at Florida Institute of Technology. He worked for the Port Authority as an intern while still in high school, and began his full-time career with the agency after his graduation from FIT. In the years that followed, Huntley held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility in airport operations at John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, and LaGuardia airports. Following 9/11, the Short Hills, NJ resident helped manage the transition at Newark Liberty from civilian security under the FAA to oversight by the newly created U.S. Transportation Security Administration. He became General Manager for New Jersey Airports in 2011, Deputy Director of Aviation in 2014, and Director of Aviation in January 2017. As Director, Huntley is responsible for managing one of the world’s largest airport systems, comprising JFK, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, Teterboro, and New York Stewart International airports. The airport system serves tens of millions of passengers annually while supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic activity for the New York/New Jersey region.
Colonel Arthur E. Martone (1923- )
Colonel Arthur E. Martone a life-long New Jersey resident, enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and completed his training in 1943 as a fighter pilot. The colonel flew 166 combat mission during WWII. Flying a P-40 on his 166th mission, ironically on June 6th, 1944, Arthur was shot down eighty-miles behind enemy lines in Monte Cristo, Italy. Bailing out, although injured he was found and kept alive by Italian Partisans until American troops retook the area. For his service, Colonel Martone was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945. In 1947, Colonel Martone joined the Air National Guard, the 119th Fighter Squadron flying P-47s. Arthur was recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict. After the end of the Korean War, he assigned to the 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron, McGuire AFB flying F-84S; being recalled to active duty in 1961-1962 serving in France with the 141st Tactical Squadron flying 2,811 sorties. IN 1969, Arthur was promoted to Colonel. While at McGuire he served in many staff positions including eight-years as Director of Operations and Special Assistant to the Commander of the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing. In June of 1980, after serving with great distinction Colonel Martone retired. In 1986, he was honored with his name being placed on the F-84 he flew at a dedication aboard the USS Intrepid. In retirement, the Colonel was a member of the Monmouth Flying Club serving as Treasurer and President for ten years. He is still active as a speaker.