Xigaware

Banner ads or billboard ads are huge signs that are pulled behind an airplane over a large crowd of people so that the message is read by many in a short time. People use these signs to advertise a product or service, to announce a special event, to tell where to find further information (like a webpage), for political ads, and for a host of other uses.

Probably these banner or billboard ads you saw were pulled behind a small single engine prop plane. Such a plane has sufficient power to pull the extra weight as well as the drag of the banner. But some companies offer banner ads that are pulled behind helicopters. This idea has pros and cons 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.

Normally you have 17 seconds to read banner ads pulled behind an airplane. Because helicopters can fly slower, this time can be greatly lengthened. Of course, if they are pulling a banner, they must go fast enough to keep it unfurled. But a billboard can be hung below a helicopter like a stationary billboard in the sky.

Normally a banner and billboard is attached to a rigid pole or support and this to a tow rope. Weights on the bottom of the ad keep it upright and free from spiraling or becoming unreadable.

Some use another method when pulling the ad behind a helicopter. It is called a Sling Load. Instead of using a rigid pole, the tow rope is attached just to the upper corner of the banner. A heavy weight of as much as 500 pounds is attached to the bottom front corner so that it stays upright. When the plane goes too fast, the message easily distorts with this method. Also, carrying that much weight poses a safety risk. The standard method requires only ten pound weights to keep it upright so the load is a lot less.

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 an airplane and a helicopter have the audio factor. They make enough noise to get people to look. The uniqueness of the banner demands to be read. In no time at all, perhaps thousands of people have read an ad that would normally be ignored in a newspaper or on TV. With either method, the success of this form of advertisement is reached.

When you have your advertising message perfected, it is time to call a company that offers aerial advertising services 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.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!