Feet Long

Flying Billboards Demand Attention

While traveling to Canada some years ago, I was struck by the absence of billboards along the roads. I guess it was against the law. Actually I missed them. Sure, too many can be obnoxious and an eyesore, but I found I rely on the information they present as I travel.

Of course, most billboards are huge signs pasted to a support on some rented piece of property like a farmer’s field. The more people who travel that highway, the better. The billboard stands there, awaiting people traveling by to read the message. Now imagine this billboard flying into the air over some huge gathering of people. That is the essence of advertising with aerial billboards.

Aerial billboards have several differences from standard roadside billboards. First, while the roadside billboard is stationary and awaits the moving people, aerial billboards are moving while the people are stationary. Second, the roadside billboard may be read by some traveling by, but the aerial billboard will be read by virtually everyone over whom it is flown. The roadside billboard will probably take a long time to be read by 100,000 people, while the aerial billboard could be read by that many in a matter of minutes.

The aerial billboards are made of nylon. Some are painted and some are dyed with a sun inhibitor for protection. The billboard is not a banner but a banner is sometimes attached to the end of the billboard to give an additional message. Some billboards are as large as 50 feet tall and 100 feet long! The message on it may be a logo, the name of a product, photos, or just about anything a roadside billboard contains.

The billboard stays upright because it is weighted on the bottom. The lead pole attached to the front keeps it spread out. A bridle attached to the lead pole is attached to a 250 feet long rope that is pulled by the plane. In order to get the billboard airborne, the pilot must take off, then circle around and hook a loop of rope fastened to tow rope. He immediately pulls back the stick so that the billboard is lifted up off the ground and not damaged.

Though lightweight, the billboard is still a hefty drag for a small plane. At times winds will ground it, or keep them from being able to add the additional banner message at the end. When he is finished, the pilot gently drops the billboard at the designated place where it can be stored and used again.

The only real difference between an aerial banner and an aerial billboard is the size and shape of the message trailing behind the plane. Clients might include restaurants, products, special events, people with congratulatory messages, wedding proposals, directions, information like a web page to get further details, special sales, businesses, movie ads, and so on. In other words, billboards display just about any brief message someone wants to get to the public quickly.

What is the cost for a billboard ad like this? That varies with locations and flying companies. On the average plan on $400 to $500 an hour for towing time and about $2500 and up for the billboard or banner. Often companies offer aerial advertising packages for the banner and display together. Perhaps this seems like a lot of money. It isn’t if you consider the revenue that the message will bring in because thousands of people saw your message in one day.

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