Hovercraft
Training Centers has captured the attention of Congress, which may lead to a
significant expansion of HTC services. On July 26, Congressman Larry Bucshon visited
HTC headquarters and announced his advocacy of a proposal for HTC to conduct
hovercraft training for the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.
There is
surprising similarity between light hovercraft, such as the 6-passenger
Neoteric Hovertrek™ (the exclusive HTC training craft) and the U.S. Navy
Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), a
100-ton, $22-million craft used to transport 180 fully-equipped Marines, weapons
systems and heavy cargo. Both operate by the same principles, as evidenced by HTC
President Chris Fitzgerald’s recent visit to U.S. NavyAssault Craft Unit 4 in Virginia.
HTC’s proposal
outlines the benefits of providing initial training military hovercraft crews
and Homeland Security personnel at Hovercraft Training Centers. Military aircraft
pilots follow a protocol of preliminary training on light aircraft, then moving
on to larger models; this same training sequence would greatly benefit the U.S.
Navy. Not only would it expedite the training process, it would also amplify
recruiting and lower the dropout rate because light hovercraft could be used to
attract and prequalify suitable candidates.
Before an
introductory hovercraft flight on the Wabash River in Terre Haute, Rep. Bucshon
spoke of further benefits:
“I am acting as an advocate,” Bucshon told the media. “We
have a sagging economy, high unemployment rate – although that’s getting
better. Any company that wants to expand in Terre Haute or in the 8th
District and create some jobs is a good thing.”
“We’re already training firefighters
and police officers from all over the world, along with personnel from the U.S.
Border Patrol and U.S. Air Force. That’s been going on for decades,” said HTC founder Chris Fitzgerald.
“I’m gonna get a hovercraft ride
today!” Rep. Bucshon
says with a smile as he boards an HTC training hovercraft with his Deputy
District Director, Matt Huckleby in the rear seat and Chris Fitzgerald at the
controls.
In their launch onto the Wabash River, Rep. Bucshon and Matt Huckleby
experience the HTC Neoteric training hovercraft’s exceptional maneuverability
due to its patented reverse thrust system.
After the
hovercraft flight on the river, Chris Fitzgerald (left) welcomes Rep. Bucshon
(right) to Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc., where all HTC training hovercraft are
manufactured.
Rep. Bucshon checks out a Neoteric Hovercraft Golf Cart, to be delivered to
the Superior Golf Club in Ukraine – the first non-U.S. golf course to own a
replica of the BW1 hovercraft golf
cart Neoteric manufactured for Bubba Watson.
At the end
of the factory tour, Rep. Bucshon and his representatives met with Fitzgerald
to discuss the details of Hovercraft Training Centers’ proposal to train
military LCAC and Ship-to-Shore Connector crews, as well as Homeland Security
personnel, and to review the plan’s benefits for the U.S. Government as well as
for the Congressman’s district and the state of Indiana.
See news coverage & videos of Rep. Bucshon’s
hovercraft flight at:
