"Hovercraft are much better suited for homeland security and search and rescue missions that our current fleet of patrol boats." -- United States Congressman John Hostettler

For the first time, The Canadian Air Cushion Technology Society (CACTS) held its International Symposium on Air Cushion Technology in conjunction with a World Hovercraft Championship. The first day of the 3-day Symposium was also an historical event: the first World Symposium on Hovercraft Rescue, with an opening address by US Congressman John Hostettler. More than forty attendees heard many superb presentations from authorities such as the Canadian Coast Guard, Ranger Mario Paredes of Big Bend National Park in Texas, and John Gifford of Griffon Hovercraft, Ltd. (UK), one of the largest hovercraft companies in the world. The morning session included hovercraft rescue operation demonstrations presented by Chris Fitzgerald of Neoteric Hovercraft, Inc. and Gary Lutke of Air Commander Hovercraft, Inc. An afternoon forum moderated by Patrick Ralston, Director of the Indiana State Emergency Management Agency, was devoted to establishing the criteria for hovercraft rescue operations in order to set the Standard Operating Procedures for this emerging technology and thwart the needless loss of life due to the primitive rescue techniques presently in use. At the close of the day, the entire audience moved across town to visit the Neoteric Hovercraft factory. Neoteric is currently producing rescue craft to be used by Big Bend National Park for whitewater rescue, as well as craft that will take core samples along the Kuwait shoreline that will allow the United Nations to determine Iraqi reparations for the Gulf War. ( Photography: Mike Lanke; Leonard Thompson)