Starair Aircraft Co., Ltd., founded in 2008 by Professor He Qinghua, a leading figure in the mechanical and electrical engineering department of Central South University, is a high-tech, privately-held joint-stock enterprise that integrates production, academia, and research. Recognized as a national specialized and innovative "small giant" enterprise, the company specializes in the research, development, manufacturing, sales, and service of manned light aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The company has obtained a Type Certificate (TC) and Production Certificate (PC) issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), a light-sport aircraft (LSA) airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia, and unmanned aircraft pilot training qualifications and AS9100D international aerospace quality system certification. It is one of the few high-tech private enterprises in China that possesses all of the above civil aviation industry qualifications.