Aerial Advertising – How Do They Do It?

May 8
08:00

2009

Michael John Arnold

Michael John Arnold

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Aerial Advertising – How Does It Work?

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Aerial advertising is becoming one the most inexpensive ways to get your product or message across to thousands of people at one time. Many companies,Aerial Advertising – How Do They Do It? Articles as well as individuals, have found that aerial advertising is more affordable, and allows their creative juices to flow.  But just how is aerial advertising done?

Banners are usually towed behind a plane that has a single engine. From the window of the plane, a grapnel hook is connected to the tail of the airplane by a rope, sometimes a cable. When the plane becomes airborne, the pilot releases the hook from the window, and the banner will swing from the tail displaying your message. But before the banner gets airborne, let’s explore what happens on the ground.

At the front of the banner is something called a “lead pole”, which is just a pole that is a hair taller than the banner itself, and with some weight at the bottom. This pole gives support to the banner while it is being flown, as well as provides weight at the bottom, to ensure the banner will fly right side up. On the pole is a harness, sometimes called a bridle that is attached to the banner in order to pick up the rope. At the front of the harness, the pickup rope is then connected and stretched across a set of poles that extend about 6 feet from the ground. At the end of the rope is a smaller rope that is used to form a loop and then is suspended in the air across the two poles.

When the ground crew gives the signal, the Banner Chief will give the signal to the pilot to pick up the banner. The plane will come in close to the ground at about 80 miles an hour, and when it reaches the poles, will go into a very steep but safe climb. When the pilot does this, it will snag the loop created between the poles, climb higher and eventually the pilot will feel a tug that will alert him that the banner is now airborne.

The ground crew will usually confirm this action and the pilot will continue to climb to a safe altitude and begin a course toward the target area. Getting the banner back on the ground is a little bit easier. Once the length of fly time for the banner has been reached, the pilot will usually radio the ground crew that they are ready to drop the banner. The plan will then approach the original location and await a signal from the ground crew. The pilot will then pull a lever that releases the grappling hook and the banner will land on the ground and the ground crew start preparing for the next banner display.

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