The Extra Mile - Fall 2019

thextramile >>>
Dear Customers, Meridian Family, and Friends,
fall/winter 2019
i n this iss u e
>>> Letter from
the CEO 1
>>> Poised for
Growth 1
>>> Meridian
Events 3
>>> Meridian
Reflections 6
>>> Meridian
Celebrates 8
>>> Plane Folk 10
>>> Meridian
Milestones 10
>>> Mile Markers 12
We are pleased to bring you another edition of The Extra Mile. Our Meridian Family is made
up of people who love aviation and support one another. We love what we do and our
customers feel our care and commitment.
We’re especially proud of our Meridian Hayward FBO. After three years of hard work,
we have filled our hangar with tenant aircraft, one of which is the newest addition to our managed
fleet, a Gulfstream GV. We’re committed to the Hayward community and appreciate their support and
recognition. Carlos Rodriquez, our General Manager at HWD, was recognized as a Hayward Hero
along with other “Heroes who go above and beyond for the students of Hayward”. Congratulations
to the entire California team and thanks to the Teterboro team for their encouragement and
support.
We are excited to be at the cutting edge of the new eVTOL and Urban Air Mobility
technology. Voom, which began in Brazil, established its first US operation with Meridian Hayward.
The company is owned by Airbus and is at the forefront of plans to revolutionize
transportation in crowded urban areas.
I hope that you enjoy this issue of our newsletter, and thank you for your
friendship and support.
Poised for Growth
Teterboro Update
The main terminal at Teterboro is undergoing
a planned refurbishment this fall. The work
includes renovations to the first floor interior and
a reorganization of some of the office space on
the other floors to make room for our continued
growth.
Hayward Update
Out at Hayward, there has been growth as well.
“We have a pretty full hangar,” said Carlos Rodriguez,
Hayward’s General Manager. “In addition to our
new managed GV aircraft, we also recently added
three additional tenant aircraft: a Gulfstream
G550, a Cessna CJ1, and a Phenom 300.” There
are now 14 hangared tenants at HWD.
There is also a lot of activity on our
ramp. The ride-sharing helicopter company, Voom,
has made HWD its headquarters. The online app,
continued on page 2

A
Hayward Update continued from page 1
operating much like Uber and Lyft, provides service
around the greater San Francisco Bay area.
Designed to transport people more efficiently and
alleviate some of the area’s traffic congestion,
the service provides flights between five regional
airports: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Palo Alto,
and Hayward.
In addition to Voom, Meridian is now hosting
another five helicopters, some of which are part of
the Specialized Helicopters fleet and are used for
flight training.
The local East Bay Cadet Squadron of the
Civil Air Patrol continues to use Meridian for its
training flights and recently, the Air National Guard’s
129th Rescue Wing landed their C-130 on our ramp to
conduct a time-sensitive mission. “And of course, we
have our usual on-going flight activity, with aircraft
landing here and passengers traveling to and from
Northern California,” adds Carlos. “So, I’m happy to
say that we’ve had a busy summer and fall.”
In addition, Hayward continues to host
meetings and other events for local organizations
and businesses that require the large and wellappointed
space that Meridian offers. In June, we
hosted the Young Marines as part of the Young
Eagles program. We also continue to host the
monthly meetings of the Hayward Chapter (Chapter
29) of the Vintage Aircraft Association (VAA).
Managed Aircraft Update
Meridian has added several aircraft to its certificate
this year. According to Mike Moore, Vice President
of Aviation Sales, this has been one of the busiest
years in recent memory for the Aircraft Management
team. Most recently, a Gulfstream GV was
added to Meridian’s managed fleet. The well-appointed
aircraft is based in Hayward and will be available
for charter. The large cabin GV has a range of 6,500
nautical miles and is outfitted with state-of-the-art
connectivity features and offers all the modern
amenities that passengers expect to find when
choosing a charter aircraft.
A Gulfstream G300 also joined Meridian’s
managed fleet. The large cabin aircraft is based in
Teterboro.
“This has been a really good year for us.
We’ve added several managed aircraft to our certifi-
B
C
D
A. The Meridian Hayward hangar is filled with a variety of business aircraft.
B. Voom, an on-demand helicopter charter and taxi service that operates in the Bay Area,
Sao Paulo and Mexico City, began its operations from our Hayward FBO.
C. The Golden Gate Young Marines pose in front of a Bell 206L-3 Long Ranger, courtesy of
Specialized Helicopters.
D. Meridian welcomes a Gulfstream GV to its managed fleet. The aircraft will be based at
Meridian Hayward and available for charter.
cate that are available to our charter customers,” continued Moore. “We’ve
also had an increase in the number of aircraft owners interested in Meridian
managing their aircraft operation. I’m very pleased with the growth we are
seeing.”
2

Meridian Events
A. The Meridian team at EBACE2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. (l to r):
Kirk Stephen, MaKayla Gorski, Bob Platten, Mike Moore, Jamie Labocki,
and Chris Battaglia.
B. A Legacy 500 by Embraer is open to visitors at the static display
at the White Plains Regional Forum, held June 6, 2019.
C. In addition to business jets, there was also a vivid display of
propeller aircraft, including this Aviat Husky A-1C-180.
D. Gulfstream showcases its many aircraft models on the ramp at HPN
during the Forum.
2) Of the 58 aircraft on display, 23 arrived
powered by Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel
(SAJF), as part of the inaugural EBACE SAJF
“fly-in”. This was a milestone in demonstrating
the industry’s support for development and
adoption of the fuel. The fly-in followed on the
heels of an industry “Fueling the Future”
demonstration day, held May 18 at London
TAG Farnborough Airport.
3) The static display was also a location for
other “firsts” among aircraft manufacturers.
Bombardier’s Global 7500 made its post-certification
debut at EBACE and Embraer displayed
the new Praetor 600 aircraft for the first time
since being certified in Europe, the U.S., and
Brazil.
A
continued on page 4
Trade Shows
Meridian participated in a variety of industry events over the last
several months. In May, Meridian exhibited at this year’s highly
successful European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition
(EBACE2019) in Geneva, Switzerland. The company sent six associates
representing Sales, Operations, and Marketing to the event, which was
held May 21-23 at Geneva Airport and Palexpo Conference Center. The
team took full advantage of the event by meeting with customers and
prospects, reconnecting with industry colleagues and friends, and
identifying new opportunities.
“The excitement and enthusiasm surrounding this year’s
show has been palpable throughout the week,” said European Business
Aviation Association (EBAA) Secretary General Athar Husain Khan.
“EBACE2019 was characterized by new products, new business models,
new investment opportunities, and a new generation of aviation professionals
determined to make their mark.”
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and
CEO Ed Bolen echoed the same sentiment. “Business aviation continues
changing right before our eyes, and here at EBACE we have seen and
touched the industry’s future,” he stated. “We’re finishing EBACE
inspired by a vision of sustainable flight, urban air mobility, and other
game-changing innovations.”
The convention itself spanned three halls and hosted 400+
exhibitors from over 80 countries. Students from the local area were
able to attend free of charge. A special “One Young World” summit was
available to young professionals and students to help with entry into
the industry and to garner more interest in business aviation
in general.
This year’s show highlighted the innovation and investment
driving the future of business aviation and included many “firsts” that
are highlighted below:
B
C
1) The first-ever EBACE Innovation Pavilion showcased three
different Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft
and concepts. Next to this display, the Innovation Zone hosted
a panel presentation on eVTOL and the urban air mobility
revolution.
D
3

A
Meridian Events continued from page 3
4) The show floor spanned three halls at Palexpo, featuring
over 400 exhibitors, including 10 new to EBACE, which were
prominently located in the show’s New Exhibitor Pavilion.
The packed halls were continuously filled with attendees
representing more than 80 countries.
5) The EBACE Opening Keynote Session featured Volocopter
CEO Florian Reuter, who described his company’s eVTOL air
taxi as “the perfect complement and addition to business
aviation,” as well as UK Member of Parliament Grant Shapps,
who called business aviation “essential” and predicted of
EBACE, “We will be here in another decade’s time with this
exhibition bigger and more important than ever.”
6) EBACE2019 featured a number of new, well-attended
Innovation Zone sessions, including an interactive “Shark
Tank”-style presentation of future leaders’ proposals
for encouraging corporate, social, and environmental
responsibility.
7) The show’s Careers in Business Aviation Day, now in its
fourth year, drew strong attendance by students from area
schools. EBACE also provided an opportunity for EBAA to
announce the opening of nominations for the second
delegation of students sponsored by the association to
participate in the One Young World summit, an initiative
that is part of EBAA’s Expanding Horizons campaign.
B
A. Meridian is ready to welcome visitors to its exhibit at the White Plains
Regional Forum held at Westchester County Airport (HPN).
B. Betsy Wines (center), VP of Customer Service & HR, proudly displays
the Pilots’ Choice Award, flanked by Ken and Susan Forester, owners
of Meridian.
It seems more apparent than ever that business
aviation is making leaps and bounds to ensure that we are
as prepared for the future as possible. NBAA’s Ed Bolen
said, “EBACE2019 provided a clear look at the future of
business aviation, making the show more important than
ever. We’re eager to come together next year and see the
next stage in all these advancements.”
Meridian will be at EBACE2020, which will be
held May 26-28, 2020, in Geneva. We hope to see you
there!
On June 6, Meridian sent a team of 15 representatives
to the NBAA White Plains Regional Forum at
Westchester County Airport (HPN). The event hosted a
record-breaking 3,200 attendees, making this the mostattended
regional forum ever in any location.
“With a sold-out indoor exhibit hall of nearly 200
exhibitors and close to 40 aircraft on static display, the
White Plains NBAA Forum was a great value to our members,”
said Dina Green, NBAA Vice President of Events.
“Business aviation professionals come to the forums to
meet with customers face-to-face, network, gain valuable
knowledge, and see multiple aircraft models in one venue.
The White Plains Forum provided all of that and much
more.”
NBAA CEO and President Ed Bolen opened
the event by stressing the importance of airports in our
infrastructure.
D
C
C. The Meridian golf team at the FlightSafety
golf outing. (l to r): Nehemias Camacho, Bob
Platten, Francisco Cabrera, and Matt Barclay.
D. Camacho attempting to sink a putt at the
Meridian sponsor hole.
4

E. The Meridian foursome at the Teterboro Airport golf classic poses
at our sponsored hole. (l to r): Nehemias Camacho, Freddy Dressel, Chris
Battaglia, and Kirk Stephen.
E
“Airports are fundamental to the success of business aviation.
We have an infrastructure of airports that opens up the world to us -
it’s very powerful,” he said. “All of this is possible because of a broader
infrastructure that includes airplanes, it includes airports, it includes
FBOs, it includes our ability to access airspace and these airports themselves.
It includes a lot of dedicated people who are flying as pilots,
but also those who are maintaining the airplane, building the airplane,
insuring the airplane, financing the airplane.”
The event featured many programs for students and recent
graduates, highlighting the defining aspects of a career in business
aviation.
Meridian had a great showing at this year’s event, having the
opportunity for face-to-face business paired with the event’s recordbreaking
attendance. Kirk Stephen, Director of Marketing, said, “White
Plains is always a great show for us. With its proximity to New York City,
we have the unique opportunity to meet with many of our customers,
vendors, and friends at a local venue.”
The evening before the Forum, Meridian and Fontainebleau
Aviation co-hosted a trip for over 50 of our industry colleagues to
Yankee Stadium to attend a Major League Soccer match between the
New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and FC Cincinnati. New York won
the game handily 5-2. The evening’s weather was perfect and a great
time was had by all!
White Plains was the last regional forum of 2019. Meridian
looks forward to the 2020 NBAA forums!
As this issue of The Extra Mile is being distributed, Meridian is
participating in the last big aviation event of the year, NBAA’s Annual
Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE). Meridian has a full
team of associates, representing all areas of the company on hand at
the event held in Las Vegas, October 22-24. If you are in attendance,
please stop by our booth, #C9830. We look forward to seeing you!
Golf Outings
Meridian also participated in several industry golf outings this summer
and fall.
Meridian was, once again, a proud sponsor of FlightSafety’s
22nd Annual Customer Appreciation Golf Tournament, held on Monday,
June 24, 2019. The company sent a team of people to meet and greet
golfers at the sponsored hole, as well as a foursome to play in the tournament.
Meridian sponsored the “Closest to the Pin” contest hole on
the Meadows course which was hosted by two representatives of the
company, Francisco Cabrera from Owner Services and Matthew Barclay
from Marketing.
Francisco and Matthew welcomed golfers throughout the day,
offering them water bottles, power bars, sunscreen, and Meridian golf
balls. The Meridian foursome included Bob Platten, Nehemias Camacho,
and our guest, Herb Knight. The fourth golfer, Chris Battaglia, was
recruited to play on another team at the last minute. This
year, Meridian took first place, scoring a 60 in the scramble
format. The Meridian team finished 4 strokes better
than last year.
Overall, this year’s tournament had 154 golfers
and over 220 total attendees. In addition to a fun day
on the links, there was also a charitable component to
the event. FlightSafety raised over $1,000 for Corporate
Angel Network (CAN). CAN is the only charitable organization
in the United States whose sole mission is to help
cancer patients access the best possible care for their
specific type of cancer by arranging free travel to treatment
centers across the country using empty seats on
corporate jets.
“The annual FlightSafety Golf Tournament is a
fun way for us to thank our valued customers each year
by providing a relaxing day on the golf course followed
by a dinner with awards and prizes,” said Michele Posey,
FlightSafety Director of Sales and event organizer. “We
also want to thank our sponsors, like Meridian, for their
generosity and support. Now that the 2019 tournament
is behind us, we’re already planning for next year.”
In September, Meridian participated in two other
industry golf events. On September 18, Meridian Jet
Center was proud to be a sponsor of the 31st Annual Ed
Furst, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing, which was
held at the beautiful Crystal Springs Golf Club in
Hamburg, NJ.
The golf outing traditionally follows the first
Teterboro PAMA meeting of the season, which was held
the previous evening at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck
Heights, NJ. Meridian has been an event sponsor from the
very beginning, over 30 years, and Meridian Jet Center
Vice President John Langschultz has been on the golf
committee the entire time. The PAMA golf outing was
renamed after Ed Furst, Sr. passed away suddenly in 2001.
Today, his son, Ed Furst, Jr. organizes the event each year.
Meridian finished the month participating in the
35th Annual Teterboro Airport Community Benefit Fund
Scholarship Golf Classic, held at the Forsgate Country
Club in Monroe, NJ, on September 23. Meridian sent a
foursome to play and sponsored a hole.
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.
It’s been another busy year for the Meridian team!
5

M E R I D I A N R

E F L E C T I O N S

Meridian Celebrates
Promotions/Awards/Achievements
A. Over 700 people were in attendance at the 10th Annual Hayward Hero Dinner, held in
Meridian Hayward’s 30,000 sq. ft. hangar.
B. Carlos Rodriguez, General Manager of Meridian Hayward, is honored to receive the
‘Hero Award’ from the Hayward Education Foundation.
C. Meridian’s CEO, Ken Forester, and several members of the Line Service team display
a colorful cake that was served at the Annual Teterboro Employee Barbecue.
A
8
Hayward Hero Dinner
On Thursday, May 9, Meridian proudly hosted the
10th Annual Hayward Hero Dinner, organized
by the Hayward Hero Foundation. The mission of
this organization is to support student leadership
and 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
educational activities and experiences in ways that
existing funding cannot.
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 in 2009, Mr.
Pacheco generously offered to take the 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 700
people attended. 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.
Carlos was
thrilled to be a recipient
of this award, saying,
“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
B
award, and I gladly accept it on behalf of all 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!
Annual Teterboro Employee Barbecue
On Friday, July 12, Meridian hosted a cookout in appreciation of the hard
work and dedication of all employees. The barbecue was held in three shifts
so that everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the food and festivities. The
annual barbecue featured all the traditional fare: burgers, hot dogs, veggie
burgers as well as potato salad, chips, and other side dishes. Meridian CEO
Ken Forester was present for every shift so he could personally thank everyone
for their hard work. We even had two large cakes so that each shift had
the chance to enjoy a slice.
With almost 200 attendees, the day was a tremendous success. “It’s
a great opportunity for everyone to take some time to relax and enjoy time
with their coworkers,” said Steve Chandoha, President of Meridian Teterboro.
“This event gets better every year, and we look forward to hosting it again
next year.”
C

D
Summer Intern Program
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 become a very 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. They all 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, the program was expanded to include our Hayward
FBO. Samantha Martinez, who rotated between ramp and customer
service roles, was 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 had
had the unique opportunity of learning what makes an FBO run, as well
the skills to help it run smoothly.
Overall, 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!
E
D. Meridian Teterboro had three summer interns in the program this
year. (l to r): Maggie O’Connell, Steven Iannone, and Julia Moore.
E. Samantha Martinez was Meridian Hayward’s first summer intern.
F. Victor Seda, accompanied by numerous Meridian colleagues,
celebrates his 20-year anniversary at the company.
G. Lou Ramm is presented the Charles Taylor Award by Robert
Thorson of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
ProPilot for the last 12 years!
Victor came to Meridian from the restaurant
industry. He says he loves aviation and really loves working
at Meridian. “Working here is awesome,” he says.
“Everyone is like family and I look forward to coming to
work every day.”
Victor says he really likes the interaction he
has with people in his job. It can be very busy at times,
and that’s what he really enjoys. “I like being at the front
desk and engaging with our customers. There’s always
something different going on and I am certainly never
bored!”
Meridian is incredibly proud of Victor and all
our dedicated Customer Service staff. We’re so glad
for your long tenure here and all of the years you have
represented Meridian.
Congratulations Victor!
F
Victor Seda Celebrates 20 years
On August 19, Meridian celebrated Victor Seda’s 20-year anniversary
with the company. Victor joined Meridian as a Customer Service Representative
(CSR) in 1999. In 2008, he was promoted to Customer Service
Manager and now supervises a staff of 22 colleagues.
Over the years, Victor has received numerous accolades for his
outstanding customer service. He has consistently been ranked in the
top of this category by Professional Pilot (ProPilot) in its annual PRASE
Survey. Joining him in this honor is our own Betsy Wines. Together, both
of them have been named among the top five CSRs in the country by
G
Lou Ramm Honored as “Master Mechanic”
Lou Ramm, Meridian Air Charter’s Director of Quality
Assurance, was awarded the prestigious Charles Taylor
Award in a formal presentation on September 25 at
Meridian’s headquarters in Teterboro, NJ. Robert
continued on page 11
9

PLANE FOLK
Estrella Montero
Client Relations
Manager
Estrella Montero joined Meridian in 2006 and has
been our Client Relations Manager for the past
two years. She works closely with the owners of
Meridian’s managed aircraft and also with other
Meridian team members. She is the liaison between
the aircraft owners and Meridian, and is committed
to making sure everything runs smoothly for our
owners and that they are satisfied with the service
they receive. “I like to make our owners happy,” says Estrella. “And when our
owners are happy, the Meridian team is happy.”
Estrella always wanted to work in aviation. She developed her love
for the industry when she was growing up in Panama. Her father was an
airline ticket agent and one of the perks of his job was the opportunity for his
family to travel, and Estrella enjoyed flying to various destinations.
“I really love aviation,” she says. “I love everything about it: the
airplanes, the travel, the excitement, and especially the people.” She had
thought about being a flight attendant, but ultimately decided to pursue
other aviation career options. She enrolled in Vaughn College of Aeronautics
in Flushing, Queens, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Airport
Management. She joined Meridian soon after graduation and has served in a
variety of different roles.
Estrella has filled many positions with Meridian, starting in Customer
Service, moving to Purchasing, Charter Operations, and finally to Client
Relations. Her responsibilities include being available to owners 24/7 and
communicating with them to make sure their needs are met. And if they are
planning a trip, she will coordinate with them directly to make sure all the
details are covered.
“I really enjoy my job,” Estrella says. “It’s challenging and every day
is different. I love working with the individual owners and making sure they
are satisfied. I also like the fact that I get to work closely with other members
of the team, such as Dennis O’Connell and Mike Moore. We are all committed
to providing the best possible service to our customers.”
Estrella said she can’t imagine herself being in any other profession
besides aviation. She’s also committed to her role at Meridian. “I do everything
I can to make sure everyone is satisfied. My goal is to always exceed
expectations, and that’s really what it’s all about.”
25 Years
Newcomers
Ramon Silva
Promotions & New Assignments
Meridian
Milestones
Ofelia Baetiong
15 Years
Victor Rodriguez
Daisy Rios
Chuck Rosky
Brian Mulder
Michael Godleski
James Bautista
David Huelbig
Eddy Garcia
Dawid Gutowski
Chuck Rosky
Mike Kotosky
Marcos Pena
Promoted to Aircraft Technician
2nd Shift Lead
Promoted to Inspector
Promoted to Lead Detailer
John Gomez
Rabin Solaiman
Eric McDonald
Anthony Lanzone
Stefan Williamson
Kelvis Vasquez
Jordan Heath
Bob Lenox
5 Years
Shane Kumar
Patrick Argenzia Jr.
Anne Stern
Kenya Buggs
Matt Stern
Robert Bober
Scott Jordan
Daisy Cuzco
Angelo Gilces
Brandon Marmolejos
Karl Granchalak
Stephen Sferruzza
Jeremy Ojerholm
Samantha Martinez
10

Meridian Celebrates continued from page 9
Thorson, FAA Safety Team Program Manager,
presented Lou with the award while members of the
Quality Assurance, Charter, and Maintenance teams
were on hand along with Executive Management
and Lou’s wife, JoAnne, to celebrate this amazing
accomplishment.
“I am very honored to receive this award,”
Ramm said during the presentation. “It is very rewarding
to be acknowledged for your career and
the work you have done.
The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award
is named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first
aviation mechanic in powered flight. Mr. Taylor
served as the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and is
credited with designing and building the engine for
their first successful aircraft. The award recognizes
the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics.
In order to be eligible, the recipient must hold a U.S.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) mechanic or repairman certificate,
and have 50 or more years of civil and military
maintenance experience.
Lou received his Aircraft and Powerplant
(A&P) license in 1969. He then served in Army
Aviation as a Crew Chief / DS Maintenance Platoon
Supervisor. His experience has included both fixed
and rotary wing aircraft in general aviation, both
corporate and charter. He also holds an FAA Inspection
Authorization. He joined Meridian full-time in
1997, after working the previous four years with
Ken Forester, Sr. providing contract maintenance
services.
“We are very proud of Lou,” said Ken
Forester, Meridian CEO. “Lou has been a real asset
to Meridian and he is deserving of this award. It’s
great to see Lou honored for his years of service
to both us and the aviation industry.”
Lou is just the latest Meridian recipient of
the Charles Taylor Award. Other recipients include
Ken Forester, Sr., Vincent Mendola, and John
Bahrenburg. We’re proud to have another member
of the Meridian family receive such a high honor.
A
Meridian Marks 30 Years of Jet Charter
Meridian was proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its jet charter business
this fall. General Aviation Flying Service, as the charter company was
originally known, was formed in 1983. In 1986, General Aviation Flying Service
became Million Air Charter Teterboro when its FBO joined the aviation
franchise. In September 1989, it added its first jet, a Citation SII, to its fleet of
piston aircraft. 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.”
Congratulations Lou!
A. The Meridian Air Charter flight operations team poses with the
original air carrier certificate to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
B. The Teterboro FBO team proudly began wearing pink on
October 1 to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.
B
Mile Markers continued from page 12
attractions in the country. It offers an abundance of
birdlife and hot springs.
And of course, there is the Aurora Borealis,
also called the Northern Lights. This spectacular
show can frequently be seen in Akureyri and the
surrounding area from September through April on
clear nights. The Northern Lights exist in the outermost
layer of the atmosphere and occur high above
the surface of the earth where the atmosphere has
become extremely thin. They are created by electrically charged particles
that make the thin air shine, not unlike a fluorescent light. The Northern
Lights can be visible for a long period of time (30 minutes up to a few hours)
and sometimes for only a couple of minutes.
There is no shortage of things to do or see in Akureyri and the surrounding
area. There are several nearby ski resorts, which are very popular
with Icelanders during the winter months. In the warmer months, there are a
number of golf resorts that also feature other outdoor activities. Akureyri
is definitely worth a visit!
11

485 Industrial Avenue
Teterboro, New Jersey 07608
mile markers: Akureyri, Iceland
Recently, one of our managed aircraft made a trip to Akureyri,
Iceland. Akureyri, known as “The Capital of the North,” lies just
62 miles away from the Arctic Circle in North Iceland. It is the country’s
second largest city, after Reykjavík. “City” may be somewhat of
a misnomer, as the population numbers only about 20,000, closer
to that of a town elsewhere in the world. It grew in size thanks to its
naturally ice-free harbor and favorable conditions for agriculture,
including its relatively mild climate.
Akureyri is renowned for the beauty of both the town itself
and its natural surroundings. There are a number of interesting
galleries and cultural and historical museums in the town, some of
which offer a deep insight into the culture of Iceland.
A definite must see is the Botanical Garden, which contains
almost every plant that grows in Iceland. The garden opened in 1912
thanks to the Park Society, a committee that was established by
the women of Akureyri, as a means of beautifying their young city.
Today, there are approximately 430 native Icelandic plant species
in the garden as well as over 7,000 examples of non-native species
that have managed to grow there. Depending on when you visit,
there’s also a good chance that you’ll catch one of the town’s many
concerts, festivals, or exhibitions.
The Northern Lights of Akureyri.
The town is also the gateway to the spectacular beauty of the
North, including lake regions, waterfalls, and volcanic areas.
The Lake Mývatn region is one of the most amazing natural
continued on page 11
Meridian Teterboro
Teterboro Airport (TEB)
485 Industrial Avenue
Teterboro, NJ 07608
FBO / Customer Service
Phone 201.288.5040
Email teb@meridian.aero
Meridian Air Charter
Phone 201.288.5459 / 800.882.2333
Email charter@meridian.aero
Meridian Jet Center
Phone 201.288.3880
Email jetmaintenance@meridian.aero
Meridian Hayward
Hayward Executive Airport (HWD)
1 Tuskegee Drive
Hayward, CA 94545
FBO / Customer Service
Phone 510.674.2500
Email hwd@meridian.aero
www.meridian.aero