Bristell Lands First B23-916iS Order in Colombia as CEAL Flight School Selects Turbocharged Trainer

Colombia – CEAL (Centro de Entrenamiento Aeronáutico Latinoamericano), a Bogotá-based aviation training organisation with more than a decade of operations in Colombia, has ordered the first Bristell B23-916iS destined for Colombia, introducing the world's first EASA CS-23 certified aircraft with the Rotax 916 iS turbocharged engine into its Private Pilot and Commercial Pilot training programs.

• CEAL selected the B23-916iS after evaluating several training aircraft platforms, with the decisive factors being the turbocharged Rotax 916 iS engine's ability to maintain full power at altitude, performance in hot-and-high operating environments, low operating and maintenance costs, advanced Garmin avionics, and cockpit visibility and comfort.
• The turbocharged engine capability is directly relevant to CEAL's Bogotá operations, where the airport sits at approximately 8,360 feet (2,548 m) elevation — an operating environment where naturally aspirated engines experience significant power loss.
• The B23-916iS delivers 160 HP from its turbocharged Rotax 916 iS engine, a climb rate of 1,320 fpm, and a 2,000-hour TBO. Standard equipment includes a BRS ballistic rescue system, dual Garmin G3X Touch avionics, and a 130 cm (51 in) wide cockpit.
• CEAL operates training centres in Bogotá and Villavicencio in Colombia, and owns and operates Fly99Romeo Flight Academy at Miami Executive Airport in Florida, offering programs covering Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Cabin Crew, Aircraft Dispatcher, and UAS Drone Pilot certifications to domestic and international students.
• The aircraft was sold through North Palm Corporation, the authorised Bristell dealer for Colombia.

Statements

• "Latin American flight schools have trained on the same aircraft types for decades. We evaluated several platforms and the B23-916iS came out ahead on performance at altitude, operating costs, and avionics. For our students in Bogotá and Villavicencio, this means training on the technology they will meet in their professional careers," said Oscar Javier Rodríguez Castillo, Director of Operations and Academic Director at CEAL.
• "This is the first B23 for Colombia, and a training operator is exactly the right launch customer. Flight schools fly hard, every day, in demanding conditions. Bogotá at 8,000 feet will show what the turbocharged 916 can do, and we expect operators across the region to watch this closely," said Martin Berka, Business Development Director at Bristell by BRM AERO.
• "For North Palm Corporation, it has been an honor to celebrate CEAL's acquisition of this factory-new Bristell B23 aircraft. This is a major step toward the modernization of local flight training fleets in Colombia and the region. Bristell has raised the bar for a more modern and efficient flight instruction environment in Colombia, and will definitely be a game changer for future pilot students," said Carlos Serrano, Aircraft Sales Director at North Palm Corporation.

Source: Bristell by BRM AERO