Rescue Hovercraft

The Role of Hovercraft for Protection, Rescue and Law Enforcement Work

The capability of hovercraft to go where other vehicles cannot, gives the hovercraft important advantages in many rescue, protection and law enforcement applications.

Most people readily understand the importance of hovercraft in ice rescue where the hovercraft skims over thick or thin ice and pulls a drowning victim into the craft and returns to safety in a few minutes.

But the role of hovercraft in flood situations, border control and law enforcement work is less well known. When rivers burst their banks or dams break and flood residential areas, it is almost impossible to use boats to travel down flooded streets because underwater obstacles like fences, fallen trees, submerged walls and vehicles damage the boats propeller and put it out of action. A hovercraft is completely unaffected by underwater obstacles and is able to go over any depth of water.

Hovercraft can be used all year round by law enforcement along coastlines where large boats cannot operate due to shallow water conditions. More importantly where law enforcement officers are checking on illegal immigrants, smugglers, a hovercraft can give a chase from water to land, over mudflats, marshes, beach areas, along muddy or sandy shorelines.

When purchasing a hovercraft for rescue and law enforcement operations it is important to know what characteristics to look for. Ask yourself these questions:

Is it a stable platform on water?
Can you stand on the edge to pull a victim in?
Does it have good flotation?
Will it float the load if swamped by a wave?
Is the crew protected from the wind chill?
How much free-board is there?
Does it get on cushion in water with the rated load?

These are essential performance characteristics. Other practical questions about reliability and performance limits should also be raised. There are now hovercraft of different sizes to meet the needs of communities, climates and conditions of all kinds.

To see a hovercraft in action and to receive assistance in assessing the value of a hovercraft in your community's emergency response team, contact us.