The current maintenance operation at Teterboro is an FAA Part 145 certified repair station and is also certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Honeywell has deemed Meridian an authorized TFE731 and -36 Series APU Service Center and Meridian Jet Center, as it is known, is now a Northeast Honeywell Avionics and Mechanical Parts Depot. Over the years the company has expanded its capabilities to include aircraft charter, management and detailing, and boasts exceptional FBO services and amenities.

Terry Spruce caught up with Meridian's Director of Maintenance, Per Karlsson, with a few questions about the company's current operations and future plans.

Spruce: “What makes Meridian a good to place for owners to bring their aircraft for maintenance?”

Karlsson: “I think owners and operators come to Meridian because we've been here for a long time. We have a good reputation and we do a great job for our customers. We also have great people (who have also been here a long time) with lots of experience and training in many air frames and power plants.

“And then you add the fact that we are a full service FBO with a competent, friendly staff and line service that's quick and accurate to help our customers with a smile and get the planes moved and ready for timely departures.”

Spruce: “With the new facility in Hayward [San Francisco Bay] California being completed by the end of the year, will that expand your responsibilities?” Karlsson: “It will have an impact on everybody’s responsibilities, but I’m sure we'll handle that with a smile like we always do and make Hayward another place where people will go and expect the same great service we're providing in Teterboro.” Spruce: “With the new Hayward location, will all Western and Californian based managed aircraft be maintained there?” Karlsson: “I think we will be providing maintenance in both places for our managed fleet. This will give us more flexibility depending on what maintenance is coming due and where the aircraft are located at any given time.” Spruce: “Do you maintain all of your managed fleet and do you have spare capacity for third party maintenance?”

Karlsson: “Yes we maintain our managed fleet in-house except for the really big events that require paint and major interior overhauls. And yes we do a lot of outside maintenance on outside customers' aircraft. Since Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support do not provide maintenance services, and since Jet Aviation only works on Gulfstream aircraft, we are always keep very busy with outside customers.”

Spruce: “How important is the Honeywell deal for Meridian?”

Karlsson: “Being a line service center on TFE731 and 36100/150 APU has been very useful for us when we maintain our fleet and also for outside customers. We can perform routine maintenance on these power plants and troubleshooting and get the aircraft up and running ready for dispatch very quickly.

“We also maintain the SPEX inventory so we have spares available in-house, making it even faster to get the aircraft repaired and ready in a timely manner.”

Spruce: “Can you talk about any further expansion plans for the maintenance department?”

Karlsson: “In addition to the Hayward FBO and hangar going up in California, we are also in the process of taking down an old hangar (18,000 sq. ft.) and building a brand new and much bigger hangar (40,000 sq. ft.), so we can have more room for our managed fleet.”

The company plans to open the Hayward FBO in August 2016.

www.meridian.aero

485 Industrial Avenue

Teterboro | NJ 07608 | USA

Tel: 201.288.5040

©BlueSky Business Aviation News | 7th April 2016 | Issue #362

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