Regulations & Safety
Valiair Acquires Southern Aircraft Consultancy to Restore FAA Registrations
Valiair acquires Southern Aircraft Consultancy to transfer trusteeship and restore FAA registrations for 803 grounded aircraft.
This article summarizes reporting by Corporate Jet Investor.
In a rapid response to a significant regulatory enforcement action by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Wyoming-based Valiair has agreed to acquire the UK-based Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc. (SACI). The deal, announced on January 15, 2026, aims to restore the legal status of approximately 803 aircraft that were effectively grounded earlier this week when the FAA invalidated their registrations.
According to reporting by Corporate Jet Investor, the acquisition involves a full stock purchase of SACI by Valiair Limited Liability Company. The primary objective is to transfer the trusteeship of the affected aircraft to a U.S.-domiciled entity that fully satisfies FAA citizenship requirements, thereby allowing the fleet to return to the skies without forcing individual owners to restart the registration process.
The acquisition was precipitated by a sudden FAA ruling issued around January 13–14, 2026. As detailed in reports by Corporate Jet Investor and updates from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) UK, the FAA determined that SACI did not meet the strict U.S. citizenship definitions required to serve as a trustee for non-U.S. citizens operating “N-registered” aircraft.
Consequently, the FAA declared the registrations of over 800 aircraft managed by SACI to be invalid. Owners were ordered to surrender their registration certificates within 21 days. Because an aircraft cannot legally operate without a valid registration, this order effectively grounded the entire fleet immediately. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was reportedly informed of the decision to ensure enforcement for aircraft located within the United Kingdom.
To resolve the crisis, Valiair moved quickly to acquire SACI. Under the terms of the agreement, Valiair will integrate SACI’s business operations into its own group. Corporate Jet Investor reports that the current officers of SACI, including the Chmura family who have run the company for over two decades, will resign as part of the transition.
Valiair, headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, specializes in “Owner Trusts” and emphasizes strict regulatory compliance. Unlike the UK-based SACI, Valiair is a U.S. citizen corporation, which positions it to hold valid registration certificates under FAA rules.
“The deal aims to transfer the trusteeship… to restore regulatory compliance and allow the aircraft to fly again.”
, Summary of Valiair statement via Corporate Jet Investor
Valiair is led by CEO Marco Reininger, a veteran with 15 years of service in the U.S. Army and a background in finance and electronics. The company maintains offices in Carlsbad, California, and Edmond, Oklahoma, in addition to its Wyoming headquarters. According to the company’s official website, Valiair differentiates itself through rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols, alongside biometric identity verification for its clients.
Based in Norwich, UK, SACI has been a prominent provider of trust services for non-U.S. citizens wishing to register aircraft on the American “N” register. However, the recent FAA scrutiny highlighted the vulnerabilities of using non-U.S. citizen trustees for these arrangements.
This event marks a significant escalation in the FAA’s scrutiny of Non-Citizen Trusts (NCTs). While NCTs remain a legal mechanism for foreign owners to register aircraft in the United States, the trustee holding the title must unequivocally be a U.S. citizen. The invalidation of SACI’s fleet suggests the FAA is closing loopholes regarding foreign-controlled entities acting as trustees.
For the owners of the 803 affected aircraft, many of whom are likely general aviation pilots in Europe, this acquisition is a critical lifeline. Without the transfer of trusteeship to a compliant entity like Valiair, these owners would face the administrative nightmare of dissolving their trusts, de-registering their planes, and initiating entirely new applications, a process that could keep them grounded for months.
Why were the aircraft grounded? What happens to the aircraft owners now? Is Valiair related to Valair Aviation?
Valiair Acquires Southern Aircraft Consultancy to Rescue Grounded Fleet
The FAA Enforcement Action
Details of the Acquisition
Profile: Valiair
Profile: Southern Aircraft Consultancy (SACI)
AirPro News Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAA determined that the trustee, Southern Aircraft Consultancy, did not meet U.S. citizenship requirements, rendering the registrations held by the trust invalid.
With Valiair acquiring SACI, the goal is to transfer the trusts to Valiair, a compliant U.S. trustee. This should restore the validity of the registrations without requiring owners to file new applications.
No. Valiair is a trust and consultancy firm based in Wyoming. Valair Aviation is an unrelated aircraft maintenance company based in Oklahoma City.
Sources
Photo Credit: Valiair