Meridian (private aviation company)
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| Private Aviation Company | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958 |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Private Aviation |
| Headquarters | Teterboro, New Jersey |
| Locations | Teterboro, NJ (KTEB) Hayward, CA (KHWD) |
| Areas Served | Domestic and International |
| CEO | Kenneth Forester |
| Fleet Size | 27 |
| Employees | 300+ |
| Services | Private Air Charter
Aircraft Management FBO Services Aircraft Maintenance and Detailing |
| Website | www |
Company Overview[edit]
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Meridian is a private aviation company with locations at Teterboro Airport (TEB) outside of New York City and Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) near San Francisco. The company currently has two FBO Executive Terminals at each of these locations. In addition, the company owns and operates four businesses units: Air Charter, Aircraft Management, Aircraft Maintenance and Fixed-Base Operations (FBO)s. Meridian has additional charter sales offices at San Jose International Airport (SJC), Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and Sonoma County Airport (STS) in California...[1]
Meridian’s safety standard exceeds the aviation industry’s stringent standards. Aside from its own internal evaluation program, the company also regularly undergoes rigorous third-party audits conducted by some of the aviation industry’s leading vendors and international auditing associations. Meridian is one of only 135 operators worldwide to hold the ARGUS Platinum rating, the highest level awarded[2]. The company is also IS-BAO Stage 2 Certified[3], IATA TCO Approved and maintains the Wyvern Wingman Certification, which fewer than 100 operators currently hold worldwide[4]
History[edit]
Early Years[edit]
Ken Forester, Sr. served in World War II as a test pilot in the US Army Air Force. He flew virtually all of the WWII fighter, transport and bomber aircraft as well as the first generation of jet fighters, the P-59 and the P-80. Following his discharge at the close of the war, Forester moved east to Teterboro Airport, where he formed Mallard Air Service with Bob Hewitt, a decorated B-17 pilot. Mallard eventually occupied the largest hangar at Teterboro and sold fuel, new and used aircraft and C-47 military surplus aircraft that had been converted into executive transports.
Ken, Sr. left Mallard in 1951 to manage a wire machinery plant in Paterson, NJ, and work part-time selling and maintaining Navions at Teterboro. In 1958, he was offered a location on the west side of Teterboro and started a new business that he named General Aviation Company. His son, Ken, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and former F-102 pilot, took over full time management of the company in 1974. By 1980, more than 130 aircraft were based at General Aviation and the FAA-approved flight school had a fleet of 33 aircraft. In 1983, a new charter company was formed using piston aircraft.[5]
Million Air[edit]
In 1984, a new hangar and terminal were built. The company began selling jet fuel in 1985 and joined the Million Air FBO franchise network the next summer. In 1989, the charter company began operating a Citation SII and entered the air charter business. A jet maintenance division was added in 1995 and earned its FAA repair station license in 1996. By the end of 1997, the charter company was in the large cabin business, operating an internationally capable Gulfstream II.
Meridian Opens Its Doors[edit]
In 2006, the company ended its 20-year affiliation with Million Air, and rebranded itself under its current name of Meridian.[6] The four business units, aircraft charter, aircraft management, aircraft maintenance and FBO were combined as divisions of the newly independent company. Meridian opened a new 30,000 sq. ft. FBO passenger terminal and headquarters, followed in 2007 by a new 40,000 sq. ft. hangar for maintenance and storage.
Between 2008 and 2012, Meridian Aircraft Management continued to add business aircraft to its charter fleet, including several Gulfstreams, Challengers, Falcons and a Global 5000. These aircraft were, and still are, based across the country in diverse location such as Teterboro, Bridgeport, Boston, Rockland, Manchester, Denver and Hayward.[7]
Westward Expansion[edit]
In September of 2012, Meridian made the decision to go bi-coastal with the opening of a charter sales office at the San Jose International Airport (SJC) in San Jose, CA. In November of that year, a second sales office was opened at the Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, CA. In early 2013, Meridian’s first West Coast aircraft available for charter was based at Hayward Executive Airport (HWD).
As the company’s client base and aircraft activity in the San Francisco Bay area grew, additional westward expansion was the next step. On January 1, 2014, Meridian signed a 50-year lease with Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) with plans to build a full-service, world-class FBO and adjoining hangar at the airport. The company broke ground for the new facility in July 2015 and opened for business in October 2016. [8]
Current Business Operations[edit]
Teterboro FBO[edit]
The Meridian Teterboro Executive Terminal features a well-appointed lobby and offers amenities such as wireless internet access, complimentary beverages and newspapers, customer services counter, full concierge services and private conference rooms for on-site meetings. Flight crew services include a pilot lounge, shower room, work stations and a state-of-the-art trip planning area.[9]
Meridian is an authorized Shell Dealer and offers competitive fuel pricing and volume discounts. Meridian is the Corporate Aircraft Association’s (CAA) only preferred fixed-base operator at Teterboro Airport.[10]
Hayward FBO[edit]
Meridian Hayward began operations in October 2016, and offers the full range of services and amenities. These include professionally-trained customer service and line service teams, 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.
EPIC Fuels is the branded fuel supplier for Meridian Hayward, and provides both jet fueland avgas. The EPIC card is accepted at this location.[11]
Meridian Hayward is located at an airport with 24/7 operations and is a General Aviation-specific airport, with no commercial airline traffic. The facility features a newly constructed 6,300 sq. ft. terminal with support offices, a 30,000 sq. ft. hangar, which can accommodate any size corporate aircraft up to and including a Gulfstream G650 and Bombardier Global Express, and 3.5 acres of ramp area. Future expansions will more than double the FBO terminal space, provide an additional 80,000 sq. ft. of hangar space and increase the current ramp size.[12]
Private Air Charter[edit]
Meridian provides aircraft charter aboard its fleet of late model aircraft. In addition, customers have access to thousands of other aircraft through Meridian’s comprehensive network of partners.
Being such an extensive private aviation company, Meridian must meet and exceed all regulatory and industry best practices for safety standards and programs. In addition to on-going internal evaluation programs, Meridian regularly undergoes rigorous third party audits conducted by the industry’s leading vendor and international auditing associations.
Aircraft Management[edit]
Meridian offers a variety of turnkey management solutions for aircraft owners. Meridian manages all aspects of the process and ensures operations are conducted safely and securely. Several customized programs are available, tailored to meet to each owner’s specific needs.
Meridian’s flight operations team is comprised of licensed dispatchers who are available 24/7 and have extensive experience with worldwide operations. Every Meridian client is assigned an owner-service team member who works directly with them to coordinate all travel details and ensure all onboard requests and services are taken care of.
Meridian currently manages over twenty aircraft, ranging from Very Light to Ultra Long Range jets. The diverse fleet includes the Global 5000, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream GIV-SP, Falcon 7X, Falcon 900EX EASy, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Falcon 2000, Challenger 605, Challenger 604, Challenger 601, Gulfstream G200, Hawker 900XP, Citation XLS, and Citation VII.[13] In addition, other aircraft types are available through Meridian’s network of qualified operators. All these aircraft are authorized by the FAA for worldwide operations.
Aircraft Maintenance and Detailing[edit]
The maintenance operation at Teterboro, known as the Meridian Jet Center, is an FAA Part 145 certified repair station, and features a fully-equipped 40,000 sq. ft. maintenance hangar. The Jet Center is also certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).[14] Meridian is also an authorized [Honeywell]] TFE731 and -36 Series APU Service Center, as well as the Northeast Honeywell Avionics and Mechanical Parts Depot[15]
The maintenance department is certified to work on Beechjets, Challengers, Citations, Falcons, Globals, Gulfstreams, Hawkers and Learjets. Services include airframe inspection and repair, major and minor engine maintenance, avionics repair and installation, Service Bulletin compliance, and troubleshooting.
Meridian’s in-house Parts Department is fully stocked and ensures that many commonly required parts are available when needed, shortening down time when unscheduled replacements are needed. In addition to aircraft maintenance Meridian Jet Center offers professional aircraft detailing services, for both managed and transient aircraft. Services range from quick-turn cleanups to extensive repair to cleaning and preservation of aircraft exteriors and interiors.
Meridian’s Maintenance Department is a member of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA). The company provides ongoing education for its maintenance operators and technicians. [16]
Accolades[edit]
Meridian has been family-owned for over 70 years. During that time, the company has earned numerous industry awards and recognition. In 2017, Meridian TEB was rated the Top Rated FBO in the Northeast by Aviation International News in their annual FBO Survey.[17] They were also rated the Top US FBO in the Northeast by FltPlan.com in their 2017 survey and Best Customer Service Representatives by Professional Pilot Io their 2017 PRASE Survey. Meridian was voted the #1 FBO at Teterboro Airport in all three surveys.[18]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Meridian". AirNav. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ↑ "Meridian Argus Platinum Rating" (PDF). Meridian. Argus International Inc. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
- ↑ Spruce, Terry. "Meridian Air Charter achieves IS BAO Stage 2". CorporateJetInvestor. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ↑ "The Wingman Standard". WyvernLTD. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ↑ "Meridian: A Fine Line" (PDF) (In Sight). CAMP Systems International. July 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ↑ Staff. "MILLION AIR CHARTER, TETERBORO CHANGES NAME TO MERIDIAN AIR CHARTER". Aviation Week Network. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ↑ "Meridian Air Charter". Air Charter Guide. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
- ↑ Alcock, Charles (15 May 2015). "Meridian Adds FBO in California, Expands in New York". Aviation International News. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ↑ Wang, Vivian (1 January 2018). "Teterboro Airport: Steeped in Glamour, History and Noise". New York Times. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
- ↑ "FBO List". Corporate Aircraft Association. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ↑ "MERIDIAN SELECTS EPIC FUELS TO SUPPLY WEST COAST EXPANSION". Epic Fuels. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- ↑ "Meridian Hayward Celebrates Grand Opening". Aviation Pros. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ↑ "Meridian Air Charter: Fleet Information". Air Charter Guide. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
- ↑ "EASA Approval Certificate" (PDF). Meridian. European Aviation Safety Agency. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Honeywell Authorization" (PDF). Meridian. Honeywell Aerospace. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ↑ Trautvetter, Chad (12 April 2012). "Meridian Jet Center Gets Two PAMA Awards". Aviation International News. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ↑ "AIN FBO Survey 2017 Worldwide Results" (PDF). Aviation International News. April 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ↑ Staff (12 May 2016). "Private Aviation Company Meridian Gets Top Honors". Robb Report. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
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