Citadel Aviation to Acquire Mach 1 Aviation Group, Adding Gulfstream AOG and East Coast Maintenance Capabilities

Citadel Aviation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mach 1 Aviation Group, an FAA Part 145 certificated repair station (certificate number MAGR152E) based in Savannah, Georgia. The transaction is expected to close by the end of September 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Mach 1 Aviation Group was founded in 2020 by three former Gulfstream master technicians — Richard Bennett, Derek Johnston, and Ben Venuti — and specializes in aircraft-on-ground (AOG) response and Gulfstream airframe, avionics, and cabin systems support. Its team holds credentials across the Gulfstream product line and brings a combined total of more than 100 years of technical experience covering avionics, SATCOM, cabin communication systems, engine and airframe systems, and entry-into-service programmes. Mach 1 is an approved services provider to the majority of Part 135 operators in its market.

Greg Colgan, CEO of Citadel Aviation, said: "Our customers expect deep technical expertise and transparency to ensure their aircraft returns to service on time and ready to fly. Mach 1 has built a reputation for answering the phone and being wheels-up within hours, anywhere in the world. Pairing that responsiveness with Citadel's depth in maintenance, modification, interior refurbishments, and upgrades means an owner has access to a more comprehensive suite of services."

Following the close, Mach 1 will continue to operate under its existing FAA Part 145 certificate and retain its current customer commitments, with its Savannah location serving as an East Coast service and AOG coordination point for Citadel. Mach 1 customers will gain access to Citadel's nose-to-tail services, including maintenance, repair and overhaul, cabin interior refurbishment, engineering, connectivity and technology upgrades. Citadel Aviation rebranded from Citadel Completions in January 2026, secured 13 new VIP aircraft projects that same month, established operations at Dallas Love Field (KDAL) in March 2026, and has completed 48 aircraft projects to date. Citadel Aviation is headquartered at Chennault International Airport (KCWF) in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

This deal is another instance of a broader MRO pattern: a full-service provider buying a small, credentialed specialist rather than trying to replicate its OEM-specific expertise and AOG reputation from scratch. Gulfstream-focused AOG shops build value through technician credentials and response speed, which are hard to hire around quickly, so acquiring the team and the certificate is often faster than building parallel capability.

For Citadel, the transaction adds an East Coast footprint and a coordination point for AOG dispatch, complementing the Dallas Love Field operation it stood up in March and the broader shift signaled by its January rebrand from Citadel Completions. Retaining Mach 1's existing Part 145 certificate and customer base, rather than folding operations together immediately, is typical of how these acquisitions preserve continuity while the buyer decides how much to integrate.

What happens next will show in how quickly Citadel cross-sells its interior, engineering and connectivity services into Mach 1's existing Part 135 customer base, and whether the Savannah site expands beyond AOG coordination into broader maintenance work under the Citadel banner.