During a ceremony at ABACE 2013 yesterday, Beijing General Aviation Industry Base Investment Holding Co. (BGA) signed a contract for delivery of two Quest Kodiaks, with options for four additional aircraft, from Blue Eagle Aviation Investment Co. of Beijing, the exclusive distributor in China for the turboprop single. These Kodiaks–the first to handed over to a customer in China–will be based at Badalin Airport, near Beijing, and initially used for emergency disaster assistance, said Liu Mingde, BGA’s director of sales.

“We’re very happy to get the first order in China,” said Blue Eagle Aviation president Alex Li. “We’re confident about this aircraft. The market is huge for aircraft for special missions, charter, aerial mapping” and other utility missions in China.

The first aircraft will be delivered following its certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, expected this summer, with the second delivery to follow about six months later. The agreement also calls for Blue Eagle to provide BGA with aftermarket support, including maintenance, modification and training for the aircraft.

Li told AIN that he anticipates announcing an additional five Kodiak sales to operators in China next month.