What aircraft do most new Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) holders fly in their first job?
In Australia, the answer is simple: the Cessna 200-series.

Whether you’re flying charter passengers into remote strips, dropping skydivers, conducting aerial survey work, delivering essential supplies to outback communities, or operating scenic flights, the Cessna 206 is the backbone of entry-level General Aviation — and it is the aircraft that most new commercial pilots will fly early in their careers.

Across the industry, the Cessna 206 (fixed undercarriage) and Cessna 210 (retractable undercarriage) are the true workhorses of single-engine charter. They dominate GA operations because of their payload, performance, reliability, and versatility. By contrast, commercial operators do not use fleets of Diamonds or Cessna 182s — those aircraft simply do not meet the operational demands of real charter work.

At Basair, our fleet is designed to mirror industry reality. Students train in aircraft that are robust, versatile, and widely used by commercial operators. This is what job readiness genuinely looks like.

By training on these aircraft, students build the confidence, situational awareness, and practical skills required for real-world flying. They graduate better prepared for their first commercial role and offer employers an immediate advantage.

The Cessna 206

Powered by a 300-horsepower engine and configured for six seats, the Cessna 206 delivers serious performance:

• Short-field capability for remote and unsealed runways

• Cruise speed of around 137 knots (250 km/h)

• Range of up to 670 nm (1,250 km)

• High payload capacity and excellent real-world utility

This aircraft gives students authentic experience in weight and balance, operational planning, cross-country navigation, and decision-making under real GA conditions.

Certified for day, night, and instrument operations, the Cessna 206 at Basair is central to our commercial training syllabus. You’ll also see it operating with Australia By Air — our in-house charter business — meaning you train on the same aircraft used in actual commercial operations.

If you want to move seamlessly from training into the types of aircraft employers rely on most, the Cessna 206 is the ideal platform during your CPL Unit of Study — and a direct pathway to the realities of your first flying job.