Universal Weather and Aviation
{{short description|American Aviation Company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc.
| logo = Universal Weather and Aviation logo
| type = Privately held company
| founder = Tom Evans
| foundation = 1959
| location_city = Houston, Texas
| location_country = United States
| industry = Business aviation
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Ralph Vasami (CEO)|Greg Evans (Chairman)}}
| owner = Greg Evans
| num_employees = 700
| services = Flight planning, aviation weather, aircraft ground handling, and aviation security
| homepage = [http://www.universalweather.com/ universalweather.com]
}}
Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. (commonly called Universal or Universal Weather) is a privately held company headquartered in Houston, Texas that provides products and services for the general aviation industry. Its customers include owners and operators of business jets for corporate and personal air travel.{{cite news|publisher=LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations|title=Universal Weather & Aviation, Inc.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2012/08/17/universal-weather-moving-hq-700.html?page=all|title=Universal Weather moving HQ, 700 employees to Clear Lake|author=Deon Daugherty|publisher=Houston Business Journal|date=17 August 2012|access-date=23 May 2014}} The company offers products and services including international flight planning and scheduling, weather briefings, aircraft ground handling, and aviation security.{{cite news|publisher=Hoover's Company Records - In-depth Records|title=Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc.}} It is the oldest company in the corporate flight planning industry.{{cite news|title=Flight Service Providers: Taking the Bumps Out of Business Flying In a changing world, commercial flight-planning/handling services are more varied than ever. But operators need to be proactive to get the service they want|author=Mal Gormley|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Business & Commercial Aviation}}
Universal Weather was founded in 1959 by Tom Evans.{{cite web|url=http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=702021071&cat=&n_date=20070202|title=Private jet traffic to India soars as business booms|publisher=Web India|date=February 2, 2007|access-date=23 May 2014}} Greg Evans, his son, is Universal Weather's chairman and owner. Ralph Vasami serves as the company's chief executive officer. The company operated in 50+ locations in 20 countries as of 2015.
History
Universal Weather was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1959 by Tom Evans, a former United States Air Force officer and meteorologist.{{cite news|title=Universal Weather & Aviation corporate flight ops|author=Grant McLaren|date=March 2008|publisher=Professional Pilot}}{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/bartintl/docs/148|title=Schedulers & Dispatchers 2014|date=18 December 2013 |publisher=Bart International|access-date=23 May 2014}} Universal Weather was originally based out of Dallas Love Field in Dallas, Texas and was the first company to provide customized weather forecasting for business aviation. The company moved to Houston, Texas a year later. For its first ten years Universal Weather was only involved in weather forecasting.{{cite web|url=http://www.sbnonline.com/component/k2/10-houston-editions/7292#.U2EpffldXwg|title=Ralph Vasami|author=Erik Cassano|publisher=Smart Business|date=24 November 2006|access-date=23 May 2014}} New services were added gradually as the business aviation industry grew.
Greg Evans, son of founder Tom Evans, became company president and chief executive officer in 2001.{{cite news|title=Universal Weather's New President|date=1 May 2001|publisher=Business & Commercial Aviation}} He had worked at the company for the previous 22 years and was responsible for the company's prior expansion into Europe and Asia. Ralph Vasami became president of the company in 2004.{{cite news|title=UNIVERSAL WEATHER NAMES NEW PRESIDENT|date=20 September 2004|publisher=The Weekly of Business Aviation}} Vasami had worked at Universal Weather since he had interned at the company's New York City weather office and had most recently served as its chief operating officer.{{cite web|url=http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/senioritis/|title=A Potential Vaccination for 'Senioritis'|author=Dave Marcus|work=The New York Times|date=27 October 2010|access-date=23 May 2014}} He would later become chief executive officer of the company.
In 2007, Universal Weather donated flight planning and weather to Barrington Irving's then-world record solo flight around the world.{{cite web |url= http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2007-08-01/universal-weather-keeps-irving-aloft |title= Universal Weather Keeps Irving Aloft |first= Matt |last= Thurber |date= August 1, 2007 |publisher= AIN Online |access-date= March 18, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/inspirational-irving-sets-round-the-world-marks-217014/|title=Inspirational Irving sets round the world marks|publisher=Flight Global|date=24 September 2007|access-date=23 May 2014}} Universal Weather's services assisted in preparing Irving before his trip as the youngest person to fly solo around the world, and also monitored his travels during the expedition, tracking his location and storms, and coordinating with foreign airports for permission to land.
Universal Weather acquired Air Chef Holdings, an American in-flight catering and concierge firm, in 2011.{{cite news|title=Universal Weather and Aviation Acquires Air Chef Holdings|date=12 May 2011|publisher=Travel Business Review}} The company launched its mobile application, Universal Mobile, for free in 2012, later updating it to be current with industry trends and making it accessible for iPads.{{cite web| url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2013-10-22/universal-weather-and-aviation-upgrades-mobile-app| title=Universal Weather and Aviation Upgrades Mobile App| author=Curt Epstein| date=22 October 2013| publisher=AINOnline| access-date=11 January 2015}}
In 2014, Universal Weather assisted Irving again providing complete flight logistics to Irving's Flying Classroom endeavor, a nine-week program of aviation expedition and education spanning over three continents. The program also involves scheduled informational stops to Universal Weather's ground support locations.{{cite web| url=http://www.nbaa.org/news/2014/20140924-barrington-irving-inspires-the-next-generation-of-aviators-with-flying-classroom.php| title=Barrington Irving Inspires the Next Generation of Aviators With 'Flying Classroom'| date=24 September 2014| publisher=NBAA| access-date=11 January 2015}}{{cite web| url=http://www.charlestonchronicle.net/87945/2152/flying-classroom-pilot-barrington-irving-meets-with-american-and-jamaican-ambassadors-in-tokyo| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129093545/http://www.charlestonchronicle.net/87945/2152/flying-classroom-pilot-barrington-irving-meets-with-american-and-jamaican-ambassadors-in-tokyo| url-status=usurped| archive-date=November 29, 2014| title=Flying Classroom Pilot Barrington Irving Meets with American and Jamaican Ambassadors in Tokyo| date=21 October 2014| publisher=Charleston Chronicle| access-date=11 January 2015}}
In 2020, Universal Weather sold its UVair fuelling division to Word Fuel Services.{{cite web |title=Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. completes sale of UVair Fueling Division to World Fuel Services |url=https://www.universalweather.com/about-us/press-room/universal-weather-and-aviation-inc-completes-sale-of-uvair-fueling-division-to-world-fuel-services/ |website=Universal Weather and Aviation Press Release |publisher=Universal Weather & Aviation |access-date=14 January 2025}}
Company brands
Universal Weather and Aviation Inc. owns and operates two brands that specialize in various services related to the aviation transport industry:
=Universal Aviation=
Universal Aviation is the ground support division of Universal Weather. Universal Weather opened its first ground handling offices in the mid-1970s in Mexico and Spain. In the late 1990s, Universal Weather began opening a network of ground handling offices. By 2016, the brand operates over 50 locations in 20 countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.universalweather.com/about-us/press-room/universal-aviation-announces-global-certification-program-for-ground-handlers/| title=Universal Aviation announces global certification program for ground handlers| date=January 20, 2016| publisher=Universal Aviation| access-date=January 25, 2016}}
=Air Culinaire Worldwide=
Air Culinaire Worldwide is the in-flight catering provider owned by Universal Weather.{{cite web| url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2014-02-25/air-culinaire-worldwide-opens-miami-kitchen| title=Air Culinaire Worldwide Opens Miami Kitchen| author=Chad Trautvetter| date=25 February 2014| publisher=AINonline| access-date=11 January 2015}} The culinary brand operates 21 catering kitchens around the world.{{cite web| url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2014-12-07/air-culinaire-localizes-inflight-menus| title=Air Culinaire Localizes Inflight Menus| author=Mark Phelps| date=7 December 2014| publisher=AINonline| access-date=11 January 2015}}
Memberships and affiliations
- National Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA){{cite web |url= http://www.nbaa.org/directory |title= Member Directory |publisher= National Business Aviation Association |access-date= March 18, 2014 |url-access=subscription}}
- European Business Aviation Association (EBAA){{cite web |url= http://www.ebaa.org/en/membership/list-of-members.aspx |title= List of Members |publisher= European Business Aviation Association |access-date= March 18, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140325135805/http://www.ebaa.org/en/membership/list-of-members.aspx |archive-date= March 25, 2014 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}
- Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA)
{{cite web |url= http://www.mebaa.com/members/index/all/u |title= Members (U) |publisher= Middle East Business Aviation Association |access-date= March 18, 2014}}
{{cite web |url= http://asbaa.org/platinum-members/ |title= Platinum Members |publisher= Asian Business Aviation Association |access-date= March 18, 2014 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140318224433/http://asbaa.org/platinum-members/ |archive-date= March 18, 2014 }}
References
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