Aerial rescue services

Starair Aircraft has also spent three years in research and development of a firefighting truck equipped with drones to put out fires in high-rise buildings.

The drones, which carry fire hoses as well as electric wires for power, can fly as high as 280 meters to fight a building fire.

Deng is optimistic the sales prospects of the drone-equipped firetruck, and believes it can exceed the sales revenue of the Aurora in one to two years.

The drone-equipped truck is expected to hit the market by the end of this year, and is predicted to become one of Starair Aircraft's flagship products.

Deng said the company expects to sell more than 1,000 firetrucks, with forecast sales revenue of up to 10 billion yuan.

The low-altitude space economy is an important part of China's new-quality productive forces and has a very bright future, which is why the company has stayed in the industry for such a long time, he said.

However, the development of aircraft requires a large amount of investment and time. It also takes time to build the required infrastructure and popularize a "flying culture", Deng added. Companies operating in the industry, therefore, still need to take a rational approach to development and not be too impulsive, he said. "It is an industry worth the long-term investment," he added.

Emergency rescue is another area where general aviation companies are making a big difference.

Ou Deqing, president of Xiangwei General Aviation in Zhuzhou, said that during the disastrous landslides in Zixing, Hunan, in July — which left 50 people dead and 15 others missing — roads and communications were cut, and the company's helicopters transported emergency goods and lifted stranded people to safety.

The helicopters were deployed in Zixing for more than 10 days and made more than 600 trips, he said. "People said that they had hope with the arrival of each aircraft and we are very proud of our work," he said.

In cooperation with emergency response, firefighting and public security authorities in Hunan, the company established the first flight teams in the province for emergency rescues, firefighting and air police work, he said.

It has also conducted fire rescue operations, forest firefighting, flood rescues, and agricultural seeding and spraying across the country, he added.

"There is much more that we can do and we believe we are on the right track of business development," Ou said.

Zhu Youfang contributed to this story.

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