Rescue Hovercraft Training: Prairieton Fire Department

David Phelps and Ben Cottrell of the Prairieton, Indiana Fire Department have joined first responders throughout the world who rely on hovercraft for rescue operations. After purchasing a Neoteric rescue hovercraft from the Vigo County Emergency Management Agency, their first order of business was to sign up for training at HTC.

David and Ben had taken the craft on a couple of trial runs before their training course. David, a 50-year veteran of the of the department, whose father was on the department as well, says, “It’s not rocket science, but it’s something you need to train to do. We had an opportunity to use it on a water rescue, but I opted to wait until we get our training. I think training is the most important thing there is about anything, especially firefighting. We want to be sure we know how to do everything properly and not hurt anyone – or ourselves!”

After completing their course, Ben (left) and David (right) receive their hovercraft pilot and maintenance certification from HTC president Chris Fitzgerald (center) …

Classroom training completed, David and Ben start pilot training at the HTC training site at the Wabash River. From proper technique for unloading a craft from its trailer, to flying on water and land, to maintaining the craft between runs, all HTC courses cover every aspect of operating a hovercraft … 

Wireless headsets allow constant communication between the instructor and all trainees during flight training at HTC … 

Flight instructor Chris Fitzgerald launches the craft onto the Wabash River for the first training run, with Ben in the passenger seat … 

Ben quickly takes over the controls on the river, with Chris Fitzgerald providing continuous instruction … 

At the end of his flight training, Ben easily transitions from water to land as he flies the hovercraft up the boat ramp … 

Now in the hands of trained, knowledgeable pilots, the Prairieton Fire Department will use their hovercraft for flood and ice rescues. “There’s a lot of flooding in our area; we’ve rescued a lot of people from stranded vehicles and flooded homes. We've had a lot of ice rescues, too,” Dave explains.

First responders: 

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