Lake Charles, La. – September 21, 2026 -- Citadel Aviation has agreed to acquire Mach 1 Aviation Group, an FAA Part 145 certificated repair station (MAGR152E) based in Savannah, Georgia, in a deal expected to close by the end of September 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Deal adds East Coast AOG hub to Citadel's V/VIP maintenance network
The acquisition gives Citadel Aviation its first operating presence on the U.S. East Coast and adds a dedicated aircraft-on-ground (AOG) response capability to its service lineup. Mach 1, founded in 2020 by former Gulfstream master technicians Richard Bennett, Derek Johnston and Ben Venuti, specializes in Gulfstream airframe, avionics and cabin systems support, with more than 100 years of combined technical experience across the team.
Mach 1 serves majority of Part 135 operators in its market
Mach 1 is an approved services provider to the majority of Part 135 operators in its market and maintains a substantial base of Part 91 owners. Those relationships have positioned the company as a repeat choice for maintenance support and aircraft transaction assistance, including pre-purchase inspections and entry-into-service programs.
Citadel CEO cites Mach 1's wheels-up response times as key driver
Citadel Aviation CEO Greg Colgan said Mach 1 has built a reputation for being wheels-up within hours anywhere in the world, and that combining this responsiveness with Citadel's maintenance, modification and interior refurbishment depth gives owners a broader service suite. Colgan said Citadel intends to significantly invest in and expand Mach 1's capabilities and capacity following the close.
Savannah site becomes coordination point as Mach 1 retains its FAA certificate
After closing, Mach 1 will continue operating under its existing FAA Part 145 certificate and retain current customer commitments, with its Savannah location functioning as an East Coast service and AOG coordination point for Citadel. Mach 1 customers gain access to Citadel's nose-to-tail capabilities, including MRO, cabin interior refurbishment, engineering, connectivity-technology upgrades, and support for narrow- and wide-body VIP aircraft; Citadel customers gain a rapid-response resource for Gulfstream aircraft.
Mach 1 marks Citadel's third major expansion in under a year
The transaction follows Citadel's rebrand from Citadel Completions in January 2026, when it secured 13 new VIP aircraft projects in a single month, and its establishment of operations at Dallas Love Field in March 2026. Citadel has completed 48 aircraft projects to date, and the Mach 1 deal represents its third major capability expansion in less than a year.