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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-allows-banner-advertising-by-low-flying-turboprops-conditionally/articleshow/72364698.cms

India allows banner advertising by low flying turboprops & choppers

Dec 4, 2019

Single engine turboprops flying low for banner advertising — called banner towing — will now be allowed in India. In a first, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has framed rules to enable this after “some operators have shown interest in engaging in this activity in India.” Aircraft are modified for including tow attachment and release mechanism for this mid-air advertising.

Issued by DGCA’s chief flight operations inspector, Captain Atul Chandra, the circular says banner towing will not be carried out over “congested areas of a city, town or settlement or over any open air assembly of persons at altitudes lower than 1000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2000 feet of the aircraft. Aerobatic maneuvers shall not be permitted during banner towing operations.”

“Only essential crew members will be carried during banner towing operations. Carriage of passengers on a banner towing flight is prohibited. Banner towing operations shall between sunrise and sunset…. (It will be) conducted under Visual Flight Rules. Operator shall obtain prior permission from air traffic control to conduct banner towing operations,” the rule says.

“In many countries, banner towing is undertaken as an effective means of advertising…. Before permitting banner towing (in India) certain guidelines have to be complied with to ensure that the activity is performed safely and does not cause hazard to public,” says a DGCA eponymous circular that “lays down guidelines and procedures for performing banner towing operations.”

The other conditions for doing this in India are that when banner towing operations are conducted around congested areas due care should be exercised so that in the event of emergency release of the banner and/or tow rope, it will not cause undue hazard to persons or property on the surface. “The tow rope will be dropped only in a pre-designated area which is at least 500 feet from persons, buildings, parked automobiles and aircraft. If the tow plane lands with the rope attached, due care should be exercised to avoid trailing the rope and endangering the other aircraft in the air, or persons, property or aircraft on the ground.”

Equal importance has been laid on coordination with properly trained ground crew.
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The_Goat · Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 12:20 am Post subject:

Bad decision!

Once this catches, you'll have banner carrying planes criss-crossing the skies over India cities, causing headaches for air traffic control and residents alike.
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GF1011 · Member Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 86

Would be a good thing for low-hour CPL holders though..new means to rack up hours. Also a new source of income for Local Flying clubs, perhaps?

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

This is not the first time. I remember seeing aircraft take off from Juhu back in the 1980s with these trailing advertisement banners.
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