Reims-Cessna 406 Caravan II

What is the Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II?

The F406 Caravan II is a twin-engine turboprop that Reims Aviation of France designed and built in cooperation with Cessna. It first flew on 22 September 1983.

It grew out of the Cessna 404 Titan and kept the same basic idea: a sturdy low-wing aluminium airframe that can carry passengers, freight or sensors. It is sold under both the Reims and Cessna names, and many people search for it as the “Cessna 406”.

The full specification table for the aircraft is on this page. The sections below explain what the numbers do not.

Is the Cessna 406 pressurized?

No. The F406 is an unpressurized aircraft, so it flies low enough that passengers and crew do not need a sealed cabin. Some older descriptions of the type call it pressurized, and that is wrong.

Why build a twin when the single-engine Caravan existed?

The single-engine Cessna 208 Caravan is cheaper to run. The F406 is not a Caravan variant at all, despite the name.

The reason for the second engine was regulation. European rules for a long time allowed only multi-engine aircraft to fly commercially under instrument flight rules, so a twin was the only way to sell a utility turboprop to many European operators.

A second engine also matters for work over water or hostile terrain, which is where the F406 found its niche.

The Cessna 406 as a surveillance aircraft

Much of the fleet went to surveillance work rather than passenger flying. Customs, coastguard and fisheries agencies use it for maritime patrol, pollution monitoring and search and rescue.

Operators have included the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Republic of Korea Navy, the French Army and Namibia’s fisheries and marine resources ministry.

A belly pod can be added for extra cargo space, and the cabin can be set up for sensors, observers or passengers.

Passenger and cargo operators

The cabin seats up to fourteen in a commuter layout.

Air Saint-Pierre in France, Air-Taxi Europe in Germany, Arc en Ciel Airlines in Senegal and Namibia’s Westair Aviation have all flown the type. RVL Aviation in the United Kingdom also operated it.

Explaining the numbers

The published figures come from different sources and different conditions, so they do not always match. The maximum speed in the panel comes from ICAO type data. Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft gives a lower maximum, measured as indicated airspeed, and the panel’s cruise speed comes from the same Jane’s entry.

The range is a maximum-cruise figure with a 45-minute reserve, so a real mission with extra loiter time or a heavy payload gets less.

Maximum takeoff weight also varies by source and by certification, from roughly 4,250 kg to 4,700 kg (9,360 to 10,361 lb). The panel shows one published figure within that range.

Production: 99 built, and a restart that stalled

Production ran from 1983 until Reims Aviation collapsed in 2013. Wikipedia counts 99 aircraft: one prototype and 98 production examples.

In March 2014 Continental Motors bought Reims Aviation and renamed it ASI Aviation. Two unfinished airframes were completed in France, and a restart in Mobile, Alabama was planned with new avionics, electrical and hydraulic systems and a choice of engines.

The type certificate transferred, but only for making spare parts, not whole aircraft. As of October 2026, Wikipedia still lists production as intended to recommence, but this page has found no evidence that a new-build F406 has been delivered.

Safety record

The F406 has a small fleet, so a few accidents are enough to define its record. Wikipedia lists a 1993 crash at Strasbourg, a fatal 2001 crash after takeoff from Johannesburg’s O. R. Tambo airport and a fatal 2003 cargo crash off Alaska.

The 2001 aircraft did not hold a valid certificate of airworthiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cessna 406 pressurized?

No. The Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II is unpressurized.

What is the Cessna 406?

It is a French-built, fourteen-seat twin-turboprop utility aircraft, developed with Cessna from the Cessna 404 Titan. It first flew on 22 September 1983.

Is the Cessna 406 a single-engine aircraft?

No. It has two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-112 turboprops. The single-engine aircraft people confuse it with is the Cessna 208 Caravan.

How many Cessna F406s were built?

Wikipedia counts 99, one prototype and 98 production aircraft, between 1983 and 2013.

Who uses the Cessna F406?

Mostly government agencies for coastguard, customs and fisheries patrol, plus small airlines and freight operators in Europe, Africa and Australia.

What is the Cessna 406 worth?

The panel on this page gives the published unit price and its year. Used aircraft are rare, and listings vary widely with airframe hours and equipment.