Meridian has received Safety 1st Clean registration from NATA for both its Teterboro (TEB) and Hayward 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 organisation 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,” says Carlos Rodriguez, Hayward 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.”

Meridian has been a participant in NATA's overall Safety 1st programme for over 20 years. While the Safety 1st programme actually certifies individuals at the locations, as part of the Safety 1st qualified location programme, FBOs and ground handlers that consistently maintain their employee's training status are recognised as Safety 1st certified.

Achieving industry recognition offers added benefits beyond demonstrating Meridian's commitment to excellence and safety, notes Victor Rodriguez, TEB line service and 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 EASA certified repair station, as well as an authorised Honeywell service centre.

Meridian's in-house detailing team currently provides multiple layers of disinfecting and cleaning services to protect travellers as well as its own personnel. In addition to decontaminating the aircraft with its ionisation unit, it also cleans 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 standard.