(Yicai Global) March 17 -- Oxai Aircraft has secured 20 more orders for its M2 Skywave light-sport aircraft, China’s first home-developed amphibious plane.

Shanghai-based Oxai Aircraft received the orders from Open Skies Club yesterday, the same day the Civil Aviation Administration certified the M2 after a decade of research and development, The Paper reported, citing the company. So far it has taken 100 orders, for which down payment has been made on 15.

The M2 can be used for pilot training, travel and sightseeing, search and rescue as well as in the maritime, electric power, and fisheries fields, said Mao Yiqing, chief designer at Oxai Aircraft.

Oxai Aircraft will focus next on building new production lines to fulfill orders and deliver aircraft at the earliest, Mao added. At present, its assembly lines have planned annual output of 50 to 70 aircraft.

Editor: Peter Thomas