U.S. business aviation services group Meridian is about to start construction of a new FBO at Hayward Executive Airport in northern California. The first phase of the project, which is due to be complete by the end of 2016, will include a 30,000-sq-ft hangar and a 6,300-sq-ft terminal building.

Hayward is situated on the southeast side of San Francisco Bay with convenient access to San Francisco, itself, and also to the cities of San Jose and Oakland. With a 5,694-foot (1,735-meter) main runway, the airport (KHWD) can accept most large business jets, and it is not restricted by any operational curfews. The new facility is being built by specialist FBO construction group, Tectonic.

“We see a lot of growth potential in the Bay Area,” commented Steve Chandoha, president of Meridian’s New York-area FBO at Teterboro. “With its prime location, we expect our new facility will be popular with both managed aircraft clients as well as with time- and cost-sensitive transient aircraft. We currently have one charter aircraft based at Hayward and Greg Johnson, our director of business development on the West Coast, is working to add several more.”

Meridian (Booth O104) currently operates a charter/management fleet of 48 aircraft, ranging in size from a Cessna Citation Mustang to a Boeing Business Jet. The operator has been audited to IS-BAO Stage 2 level and also holds Wyvern Wingman and ARGUS International Platinum ratings. Since the start of 2015, it has added a Bombardier Challenger 605 and a Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy to the managed fleet.

Meanwhile, at Teterboro, the company is planning to replace its existing Hangar 12 with a new 40,000-sq-ft structure. The new two-story building is about twice the size of the existing hangar and will include office space and more room for the maintenance team that support’s Meridian’s fleet. Moving some maintenance activity to the new hangar will free up space for supporting transient aircraft in the company’s other Teterboro hangar.

Construction work is expected to be complete by December 2016. The company is aiming to minimize disruption to its operations.

Meridian’s maintenance operation holds FAA and EASA Part 145 approvals. It is an authorized service center for Honeywell’s TFE731 engines and for its -36 series auxiliary power unit, as well as serving as a parts depot for Honeywell avionics and mechanical spares. The facility is also an approved warranty repair center for Bombardier aircraft and houses a mobile support crew for the airframer.