Helpful info

About Center of Gravity

All Terrain Vehicle Performance Chart

Ongoing Hovercraft Projects

There is a very frustrating facet of our hovercraft industry, which hopefully someday will be remedied. It becomes very prevalent when one is out flying in their favorite location, and is told by a member of the Park Service, Department of Fish and Game- (Wildlife), State Trooper, or other authority that they “can’t be there.” There are various reasons why this can happen:

1. It seems that many laws governing ORV’s, (off road vehicle), ATV’s, (all terrain vehicle) or OHV’s, (off hiway vehicle), are assumed by some regulatory agencies to include hovercraft, which may not be appropriate or necessary.
2. Along the same line, the laws may be antiquated and may have included hovercraft before much was known about their capabilities.  
3. There also seems, at times, to be a breakdown of communication between the regulatory persons and the field personnel who are doing the enforcing. The enforcers may not have been informed of changes in the laws or of the fact that hovercraft were made exempt from a law specifically covering ORV’s.
4. We believe a major cause of the irregularities in the law and the banning of hovercraft in certain areas results from a lack of education about the craft and its unique features, which make it extremely useful in diverse circumstances and under rigorous conditions.
5. We would like to propose a refining of the laws by a member (or members) of the Alaska Legislature who is knowledgeable about hovercraft and their diversities.

The use of Hovercraft is so misunderstood, and yet it is being squelched along with the other modes of transportation and recreational vehicles, or ORV's as the park service puts it now. There is a lot of room for education and improvement in this Industry.

A bear viewing venture was started out of Soldotna using 4 Neoteric hovercraft. The USCG had waived all involvement to this operation, as it was going to be operated on non-navigable waters. The State permit and access across wetlands was approved. Princess Cruises was sponsoring this venture with rave reviews worldwide. The first trail run was a-wash because the park service would not allow the operator to fly up the river and turn around on the sand bar because the hovercraft would destroy a few fragile clumps grass on the beach. This involved more permits and the waiver finally came at the end of the season. It cost the operator many, many thousands of dollars and almost bankrupt the operator and his normal bussiness.

Another hovercraft venture was at Goodnews Bay, except the wording for this was put in the law books at the time of State Hood with out any regard to the hovercrafts working relationship on the environment. Hovercraft are still banned although an airboat or jet boat is allowed.

A large hovercraft was bought for tourism on Wiskey Lake. Local charter business did not appreciate new technology in their area. The hovercraft never operated. Other findings have indicated that a better part of the Yentna River residents favor hovercraft.

AP.1-88 an Alaska hovercraft, Lynden Inc. was given a waiver on this foreign built hovercraft to operate for the United States Postal Service for freight only. The term ended and a second waiver was given, which is now up. This hovercraft is currently flying passengers and continues to haul mail.

Alaska Administrative,-Codes title 8-11, AK-R,348-789-025 Ak, Article 6. Denali State Park AAC 20.415 Motorized Boats, D. Hovercraft ban, there is no explanation given why this document was approved.

Chapter 20. State Parks and Water, Article 16, Kenia Special Management Area, 11AAC 20.867 Non Motorized Area, 1. Restrictions for an Airboat, Hovercraft, or Hydroplane. There is no explanation for this action.

Another legal issue arose for the use of hovercraft on the Susitna Flats across from Anchorage. This is a very unique and popular duck hunting area. A court appearance by the proposed guiding outfit resulted in a limited waiver, which stands good today for the use of hovercraft.

Yukon-Charley National Preserve: This is an issue of park and preserve boundaries on the same water shed, and the conflicting use of boating regulations.

The Dept of Natural Resources Summary of Adopted Regulations: Prohibiting hovercraft on Lake Aleknegik. Downloads the PDF document.

Banning of hovercraft in the Kenai Lake and River, Alaska, area: in the waters of the Kenai River Special Management Area, persons may not launch or operate an airboat, hovercraft, or hydroplane?

Cooper landing advisory planning commission banning hovercraft in Kenai area. See more updated version, Banning Hovercraft in the Kenai, Alaska area.

Dept of Natural Resources Chapter 20, State Park Land and Water banning or restricting the use of just about everything!

National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plans direction for, "Motorized Recreation Access" in the Chugach National forest.

Along with all this research and fun things, we have been busy establishing an archive for Alaska's role with hovercraft. The plan is to get a spot in the Aviation Historical Museum. Any help we can get will be appreciated. There are some that have already contributed, and we wish to thank you. The pioneers of this endeavor will be honored in the display along with pictures and models.
Email us with your ideas.

Also, we have been trying to establish a memorial to honor the first manufacturer of this pioneering adventure of hovercraft in Alaska. It would be included in a 1% beautification project for a newly constructed building or like project, in the Anchorage area. We will need a donation of an Alaskan-made hovercraft to put on static permanent display.
Email us with your ideas.

Ban on watercraft in Parks This document or legislation allows the president to sign off on blanket banning of water craft without opposition to what ever the park service decides on.

Damage done by heavy snow in winter
(Falcon 111 getting face lift in the background)

Stripped and ready for repair

Hovercraft Help Section Links ---> | Education | Ongoing Projects | Building | Repairing |

| Home | Hovercraft News | Hovercraft Help | Hovercraft Fun | Alaska | Members/Guests |

All material on this site is posted with the assurance that all members and users use the information for their personal use. We try to post factual material, but we cannot guarantee the content. We will not be held responsible for misuse or the outcome of anything related to this site.