LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 4, 2011) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) will offer its first Airboat Operator Course the week of October 24, 2011, in Delacroix, Louisiana.

This new airboat training falls under NASBLA’s Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) program. Launched in 2010, the BOAT Program aims to deliver a single national standard of training to marine law enforcement in federal, state and local jurisdictions. The BOAT Program provides the nation’s maritime law enforcement and first responders with a standard of qualification and training as well as a roadmap for maintaining currency of skills and internal program management for their agency regardless of size or discipline.

The Airboat Operators Course will provide maritime law enforcement and emergency responders a comprehensive framework in order to become more proficient with specialized skills necessary to operate airboats in the maritime environment. A key element of this course will be the preparation of participants to become qualified in the tasks necessary for response to maritime safety and security operations. Participants will receive recognition in the national qualification database maintained by and through NASBLA. Students will operate within a controlled environment with an emphasis on “hands-on” operational training. The course is delivered using “team teaching” as the model, where all instructors are engaged in every module within the course, under the operational command of a lead instructor. This resident course offering is located on Delacroix Island, Louisiana. All ground transportation from New Orleans Airport, lodging and meals are provided for the duration of the 5-day, 40 hour course.

“This airboat training is another positive step toward the BOAT Program’s mission of creating a national standard of training for marine law enforcement,” said John Fetterman, NASBLA’s director of law enforcement.

For more information on NASBLA’s BOAT Program, visit www.nasbla.org/BOAT. To register for this course and for more information about the airboat training, please visit www.nasbla.org/airboat.

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The association offers a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, NASBLA affects the lives of over 83 million American boaters.

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region