KUNOVICE, Czech Republic, June 16, 2026. CEAL (Centro de Entrenamiento Aeronáutico Latinoamericano) has ordered the first Bristell B23-916iS destined for Colombia. The aircraft, manufactured by Bristell by BRM AERO, a Czech manufacturer of high-performance training and light sport aircraft, will join CEAL’s training fleet upon factory delivery and will support Private Pilot and Commercial Pilot training programs.
CEAL is an aviation training organization with more than a decade of experience in Colombia, operating training centers in Bogotá and Villavicencio. It provides programs for Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Cabin Crew, Aircraft Dispatcher, and UAS Drone Pilot certifications. CEAL also owns and operates Fly99Romeo Flight Academy at Miami Executive Airport in Florida, serving domestic and international students.
CEAL selected the B23-916iS after evaluating several training aircraft platforms. The decisive factors were the turbocharged Rotax 916 iS engine, performance in hot-and-high operating environments, low operating and maintenance costs, advanced avionics, and cockpit visibility and comfort. The turbocharged engine maintains full power at altitude, a practical advantage for operations from high-elevation airports such as Bogotá, which sits at approximately 8,360 ft (2,548 m).
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.
— Oscar Javier Rodríguez Castillo, Director of Operations and Academic Director, CEAL
The B23-916iS is the world’s first EASA CS-23 certified aircraft with the Rotax 916 iS engine. The 160 HP (117.7 kW) turbocharged engine delivers a climb rate of 1,320 fpm (6.71 m/s) with a 2,000-hour TBO. The aircraft features a BRS ballistic rescue system as standard, dual Garmin G3X Touch avionics, and a 130 cm (51 in) wide cockpit.
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.
— Martin Berka, Business Development Director, 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.
— Carlos Serrano, Aircraft Sales Director, North Palm Corporation, Bristell Dealer for Colombia
