India Clears Two Bristell B23 Variants for Registration and Operation

India – Czech training aircraft manufacturer BRM Aero, operating under the Bristell brand, has secured Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) type acceptance in India for the B23-912iS and B23-916iS.

• Two Letters of Type Acceptance were issued by the DGCA on July 31, 2026: IN26ATA055 covering the B23-912iS and IN26ATA054 covering the B23-916iS, designated B23-916 on the type certificate. Bristell states that the approvals were based on DGCA recognition of EASA type certificate EASA.A.642 Issue 8, dated December 17, 2025.
• The B23-912iS is powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912 iS Sport engine with Single Lever Power Control and a 2,000-hour time between overhauls, while the B23-916iS uses the turbocharged 160 hp Rotax 916 iS with the same stated TBO.
• Both approved variants use an all-metal airframe, Garmin glass-cockpit avionics with autopilot, a three-blade MT constant-speed propeller and a whole-aircraft ballistic parachute system. The aircraft can operate on RON 95 automotive gasoline as well as AVGAS; Bristell publishes fuel consumption of 16.3 litres per hour at 75% power and FL100 for the B23-912iS.
• Bristell currently lists B23 approvals across EASA, FAA and UK CAA jurisdictions, together with type acceptance in markets including Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa and India.
• AFM previously reported that Melstarr Aviation Learning Academy placed an order for 20 Bristell B23 aircraft in April 2026 as the planned foundation fleet for a new Flight Training Organisation at Kurnool Airport in Andhra Pradesh. The academy is part of a EUR20 million aviation training investment and has stated a target of training 200 pilots annually from 2027.
• The July type acceptance provides the regulatory basis for approved B23-912iS and B23-916iS aircraft to enter the Indian register.
• India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation listed 41 Flying Training Organisations across 63 operational bases as of July 2, 2026. On August 5, the ministry also awarded Letters of Intent for 11 additional FTOs at seven Airports Authority of India airports, adding further planned demand for aircraft and training infrastructure.
• Air Taxi, formally Aviation Connectivity & Infrastructure Developers Pvt. Ltd, is Bristell’s authorised dealer in India and is based in New Delhi.

Statements

• “Most cadets in India do their first hours on aircraft older than they are, and meet a glass cockpit for the first time in an airline simulator. With the B23, a student's first solo happens in the environment they will fly for the rest of their career, while the school runs the aircraft on automotive fuel with a 2,000-hour engine. Modern for the cadet, economical for the operator. Nothing to unlearn, nothing to import,” said Varun Suhag, Managing Director at Air Taxi.

Source: Bristell