China has begun work on building a large amphibious aircraft for fire fighting and rescue missions, an official from Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) confirmed Monday.

When completed, they will be the first aircraft of their type manufactured in China.

The start of research work was announced Saturday at AVIC's China Special Aircraft Institute (also known as Institute 605 of AVIC) which is based in Jinmen City in central China's Hubei Province, said an official who requested anonymity.

Chen Zhengguo, the institute's designer in-chief for the research program, said the machine would be a four-engine propeller aircraft able to touch down on land and water. It would have a maximum take-off weight of 49 tonnes.

The aircraft would be able to touch down and glide to draw water for fire-fighting purposes, with a maximum water-carrying capacity of 12 tonnes, said Chen.

The machine will also be equipped with first aid equipment and would be able to provide a rescue service for up to 50 people a time.

Market research shows that demand for this type of aircraft in the domestic market would be 50 in the near future and rise to 150 in the next 15 years.

The building schedule calls for the aircraft's first prototype to be ready for its maiden flight in 2013 and for it to obtain a civil aviation certificate from China's air authority the year after.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2009)