A common reason for establishing a trust is that a foreign citizen, limited partnership, or other party can use a trust to get a valid FAA registration for its aircraft that it would not otherwise qualify for due to strict FAA regulations.

A trust is the most simple and cost efficient way to necessitate the needs of foreign parties and investors to own and/or operate aircraft being used or leased within the U.S. FAA records would reflect Aviation Trust Company as the titled and registered owner, rather than the actual owner or beneficiary. This makes determining the true owner of an aircraft by a third party more difficult.