Cessna Flight Simulator

The Cessna Caravan (C208) light aircraft is ideally equipped for versatile, remote operations in demanding conditions and is widely used across the region by a number of commercial operators. It is the most commonly used aircraft by Far North Queensland-based MAF International (MAF), the world’s largest humanitarian airline and the proponent of the simulator.

The C208 aircraft provides critical access to remote communities which would otherwise be isolated. There are currently 152 registered in Australia, with more on the way, and close to 300 in the immediate region.

Pilot training currently takes place within aircraft in flight, allowing little room for pilot error in treacherous and remote terrain and unpredictable climactic conditions. The simulator provides a step change in sustainability for rural aviation, offering a unique carbonisation reduction opportunity.  With more than 2600 of these aircraft currently in operation worldwide and an 18-month wait time on new units, the popular C208 airframe is resilient and will remain relevant for decades into the future, having been handpicked for development of full electric engine capability.  Additionally, the widespread use of the C208 in challenging conditions has seen several incidents which have resulted in both human and capital loss. With some models carrying up to 12 passengers, the impact of one accident prevented far exceeds the implementation costs of the simulator.

By removing the need to conduct elevated risk training manoeuvres in the air, the simulator not only provides significant value in reducing in-aircraft training times, saving operators hours in maintenance, but also keeps aircraft online for operational use. Further, in the present context of pilot shortage, the simulator provides an opportunity to fast-track pilots towards industry readiness, enabling repeated exposure to difficult operational scenarios that quickly develop pilot competency.

MAF estimates that greater than 60% of selected training can be migrated into the simulator, covering initial ratings and recurrent training. A reliable feature of rural aviation for decades to come, the C208 is an aircraft type commonly flown by less experienced pilots on a pathway towards airline careers. The simulator provides an environmentally sustainable base for improving safety in general aviation and providing valuable career skills that enable future growth in the Australian airline industry.

A Cessna Caravan simulator would be the first of its kind outside the United States and would provide a steady stream of new pilots prepared in a safe environment for unique regional conditions. It would also ensure that current pilots are upskilled on an ongoing basis. Together with the Cairns Aviation Skills Centre (CASC) and Aviation Australia, Australia’s only Cessna Caravan simulator would cement Cairns as a national aviation training hub, complementing the pilot training offered through CQUniversity’s aviation school.

The simulator would align with the training offered at the Queensland Government’s Cairns Aviation Australia facility within the industry led CASC, and also attract pilot trainees from across the region, helping build capacity in the Pacific, particularly in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where MAF is currently expanding its training offerings for new pilots, under its Mareeba flight school – the only offshore flight school accredited by CASA PNG. In addition, MAF has a long-standing pilot training program through its operations in East Arnhem Land and hopes to further expand its Indigenous training program.

Establishing Australia’s first Cessna Caravan full flight simulator in Cairns and cementing the region’s position as a premier aviation training hub, requires a capital investment of $8-10m from the Queensland Government. This investment would unlock the opportunity to accelerate the implementation of this asset by years, bringing critical safety outcomes and alleviating pilot shortages without delay. MAF International has committed to ensuring the success of the project by covering costs associated with all operating expenses, estimated to be in excess of AUD$1m p.a., including support, maintenance, administration and logistics staff and device and facility maintenance. The Australian Government Office of Impact Analysis rates the Value of Statistical Life (VSL)[i] at $5.4m­­­ per individual, meaning that the value proposition of this investment is beyond question, making the success of this project a key commitment of MAF International.

[i] Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Office of Impact Analysis, Value of statistical life, PM&C, Australian Government, 2023.

Benefits to the region

• Australia-first Cessna Caravan full flight simulator, cementing the Far North as a premier aviation training hub.
• Significant potential to establish Cairns as the national hub for pilot training for the Cessna Caravan, in partnership with the Queensland Government’s Aviation Australia at the CASC.
• Introduce new standards of safety and enhanced pilot training for pilots who typically service rural and remote parts of Australia, PNG and the Pacific.
• Free up aircraft for commercial, humanitarian and emergency use in the region.
• Train and build capacity throughout Indigenous communities, as well as PNG and the Pacific (adopting a model similar to the current Pacific Maritime Security Program conducted in Cairns at the TAFE Queensland Great Barrier Reef International Marine College).

Last updated: February 2025