If you have ever been to a beach or sporting event, you might have seen a banner or billboard pulled behind a plane, advertising something. These signs tell of products or services, announce a special event, tell where to find further information (like a webpage), display political ads, and are used many other ways.

Most banner or billboard ads are pulled behind a small single engine prop plane. This type of plane has enough power to pull the extra weight and drag of the banner. However, some firms offer banner ads that are pulled behind a helicopter. This has several advantages and some disadvantages over the standard airplane.

First, because helicopters are much more versatile, they require more training to learn to fly them. This means the pilots are paid more and the banners are more expensive. Also, the power of the helicopter demands  a larger engine and thus more fuel cost. Again, the one using this service will pay more.

Helicopters can fly more slowly and even hover to provide a longer viewing time. Normally when banner ads pulled behind an airplane allow the audience an average of 17 seconds to read the message. Of course, there is a minimum speed needed to keep the banner out straight so it can be read. A billboard hung below a helicopter can be a stationary ad for a short period of time. At least the read time will be greatly lengthened.

The banner and billboard ad is normally attached to a rigid pole so that it stays upright and readable. Weights are attached to the bottom of it so that it does not spiral or turn over.

The other method developed by skydivers is called Sling Load banner pulling. Here the helicopter basically pulls the upper corner of the banner and a weight is attached to the bottom of the leading edge so that it stays vertical. In spite of this weight, however, the ad often distorts as the wind hits it for the lower edge can’t keep up with the top. The weight could be as much as 500 pounds so a safety factor is also involved. Standard banners only require 10-15 pounds of weight to keep them vertical.

One chief advantage of the helicopter is in the power of their engines and in the upward lift, not directly opposed to the drag of the banner. This results in the ability to pull much larger banners, some as large as 50,000 square feet. Compare that to the normal perhaps 3000 square feet banner pulled behind a plane.

Both a helicopter and an airplane make enough noise to draw the attention of the spectators. And both methods provide the unique ability of having a message presented to a large audience in a very short period of time without any competition for attention. Because of this, 99% of the audience will read the ad and get the message fixed in their minds.

When you have your advertising message perfected, it is time to call a company that flies aerial banners who can guide you through the process of getting it printed and into the sky. The effort you put into making it just what you want will soon begin to turn into great results.

Aerial Advertising

What is an aerial banner ad?  It is simply a long banner containing a message that is then flown over a crowd to convey that message randomly to them. Banner ads are very popular way to tell of new stores or restaurants, to remind people of established businesses, or to promote political candidates. They are even used to convey birthday wishes or proposals for marriage.

Those effectively using airplane advertising are not wasting their money. It has proven to be a relatively low cost high impact means of advertising. The message immediately grabs the attention of a large audience by its uniqueness and the drone of the plane, and is repeated many times as the plane flies over the crowd. It is a great way to get a message to a local audience.

Yes, the ad has a captured audience, no competition for the product, the sound factor of the plane overhead, and the repetition of multiple passes. All this is built into the service. Banner ads are, of course, brief. After all, the audience has just 17 seconds to read them. Yet some ads are more effective than others, and more persuasive in causing others to consider a certain product or service. What makes one banner ad better than another?

A good banner ad follows several rules. First, the brief message must reach the planned goal. Second, the message must be readable, catchy, attractive, and easy to remember. The printers will make it readable and attractive. Your job then is to plan a message with the above factors in mind.

For decades this little poem has helped people plan an effective ad:  There are six honest serving men  Who taught me all I knew.  Their names are what and when and why  And how and where and who.  So your first task is to write down everything you really want the audience to learn from your ad. Be specific and concise. Some of the six question words above will not apply to your situation. For example, you may not need to tell them why they should visit your establishment, at least, not yet. But the questions what, when, and where are usually important. The ad may simply tell your name and a website where more information is available that will answer other questions.

Once you finish your list of must know information, then work on the wording until you are satisfied it is the best possible. Short messages are harder to write than long ones. It would be nice to tell the captivated audience all about yourself but the banner simply wouldn’t allow that, nor would the people remember it.  Perhaps best would be to tell them just enough to get them interested in learning more.

Now that your full message is concise, ask yourself, “Is it easy to remember?” Why is this important? People at a beach or sporting event are normally not going to be prepared to take notes. After all, you ad is a brief diversion from their main purpose in being there. It is good to test your idea on others to see if they think it will be remembered. Take your time to make it catchy. It will be worth the effort.

When you are confident your message will be effective, it is time to contact an airplane banner company and begin the process of getting it into the air. In no time, your well planned message will be presented to thousands of people and the impact for you will begin to be seen.