What licenses and permits are needed to operate a hovercraft?
To operate private or pleasure hovercraft the Rules, Licensing and Permit requirements are the same as for a private or pleasure boating.
To use a commercial hovercraft you will need a Coxswains certificate or similar from the Marine Authority in your Country or state and the craft must be in current survey specifying that it meets all of the marine, safety and operational requirements.
Marine Boards, Port and Waterways authorities throughout Australia are looking at having identical survey and driver certification standards and these standards are derived from USA, Canada, England and Europe. Victorian Marine Board requires you to have an endorsement on your Coxswains certificate verifying that you are comptent and have completed a minimum of 50 hours of flying time in all conditions.
Check carefully that a hovercraft you intend to buy will be surveyable in another state, most are not and it may be difficult and very expensive to bring a hovercraft up to survey standard when it was not designed that way...
Hovergo SG Australia can advise you how to meet Australian standards and provide training in commercial hovercraft operations and maintenance.
In Australia insurance can be obtained readily if you are a member of the Federation or a local affilliated club, this probably applies throughout the world, its up to you to check on this.
It's a worry if you buy a craft and find it will not meet survey standards, be wary, some sellers will indicate that their craft will meet survey but the truth can be far from reality, tell them that you will check with the state Marine Authority for confirmation.
Phone The Marine Board of Victoria (+61 03 9655 9796) for advice on Victorian survey requirements or the Waterways Authority or similar in other states and ask for a copy of the standards. If you don't understand them, --- ASK --- The Marine Board of Victoria has used a combination of rules derived from the British Cruising Hovercraft rules and American Hovercraft Rules, check, research and check again, 'it's your money George'.
The Australian Hovercraft Federation will be able to advise you on who to contact in your state.
eMail Hovergo SG for more information
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