Banner Tow Florida

jgheggie said:
Can you tell us a little more about the training? Is it just a couple hours and ground work? Or is there any sort of real faa check ride? I was gonna google it but that requires....well, googling!
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Yeah dido. Are you hiring?
 
From what I understand, a lot of the training (which can be anywhere from 5-15 hours) , is about learning to hook the banner, learning how the aircraft performs while the banner is in tow especially considering temperatures and engine performance for some aircraft that you will fly, getting acclimated to the view you will want from your cockpit while flying down the beach or on-site at a specific location, Learning about the obstacles in the area (Towers, High-Rises by the beach etc), Learning the airspace and specific routing your company might follow to make things easy for ATC, learning how to release the banner and also learning what to do in an emergency type situation. Any ground work will usually be a brief and debrief of what happens during the flight.

I consider all of this to be "OJT", and I've never heard of a company that makes you pay for OJT.

I'm just reaching 200TT, so right now I just take poppa bear's cub out and play pretend jetblue captain for @Adler 's amusement, but in the past few years of meeting other tow pilots and working the operation on the ground, I've learned that towing banners requires sharp attention to detail from the moment you step in until the moment you set the breaks, both outside of the airplane and inside.

I know a few others on this board who've I worked with, They can probably give you a bit more information on the experience. I'll let them out their selves.
 
Chad2509 said:
Yeah dido. Are you hiring?
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Not hiring at the moment, but the banner tow community is pretty well connected, and of course it never ever hurts to have a resume on file , so send me your info and I'll keep you updated on any hiring news. Usually season in Florida is winter and spring, and then during the summer times a lot of airplanes from different tow company's get sent up north.
 
I'm definitely interested in hearing what people's routines are as banner towers. This is something I'd really like to get into
 
PIL0T FISH said:
I'm definitely interested in hearing what people's routines are as banner towers. This is something I'd really like to get into
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Typically when the ball gets rolling and we are in full schedule, We have pilots show up between 8-9am depending on when the day starts. I wake up early to move the airplanes out and set them up with fuel, waters, hooks and pre flight checks etc. Breakfast is provided, Dunkin is the first stop of the day with a group text to see what everyone wants. Ground crew will have the banners set up and by 10am we are rolling. The hooks can be anywhere from a minimum of 1hr tows down the beach, to 4 or 5 hour tows over football games and the likes. Communication is big, so I usually stay in touch with the pilots to be aware of their ETA's for coordination, and for fueling and mx items to be looked at on the ground. I try to get at least 30 mins between each flight to service the aircraft (Pops is just like an airline sometimes...) and make sure everything is good and prepared for the next tow. Also lunch is provided, our peeps gotta eat!.

When its all said in done the pilot would have flown from about 10am until 5pm with 2 or 3- 30/60 min breaks in between the flights. Usually at the end of the chaos, we bring out the grill, throw tons of steaks, ribs, good eats, grab cold beverages and have a good time.

This is typical at the height of our banner tow season, run by mom and dad, and is usually a schedule seen mainly on weekends and during big events such as Sunfest, or Ultra Festival.

Works out perfect for some who will do this part time, and then work as a CFI, Sky Dive, or charter pilots in the area full time. It's still not enough work to move for or live off of, but hey $30/per Hour + Dunkin + Ribs? easy.

Now as a disclaimer, working for the bigger corporations you will not see stuff like this. Some places you will learn to set the banner up yourself, and work the entire deal by yourself, other places you will fly M-F from morning until dusk, and I've even heard of operator sending pilots our halfway across the country with the airplanes to tow and then come back home.

Also, side note: Insurance will dictate who can work. The more Tail wheel time you have, the happier the insurance company is.
 
Ive been towing for the past 2 summers. Tailwheel time is everything. Training is easy, and for gods sake, DO NOT pay for training. I know some companies if anyone wants info. The local operators will treat their pilots much better than the big national ones. Van wagner is the best, aerial banners is.... not great, and airsign you wont get paid or fly much. Theres a quote out there as well that applies to this thread. "dont work for the little FAA unless you want the big FAA breathing down your neck" Sketchy operation, run away...
 
Mike Wise said:
Typically when the ball gets rolling and we are in full schedule, We have pilots show up between 8-9am depending on when the day starts. I wake up early to move the airplanes out and set them up with fuel, waters, hooks and pre flight checks etc. Breakfast is provided, Dunkin is the first stop of the day with a group text to see what everyone wants. Ground crew will have the banners set up and by 10am we are rolling. The hooks can be anywhere from a minimum of 1hr tows down the beach, to 4 or 5 hour tows over football games and the likes. Communication is big, so I usually stay in touch with the pilots to be aware of their ETA's for coordination, and for fueling and mx items to be looked at on the ground. I try to get at least 30 mins between each flight to service the aircraft (Pops is just like an airline sometimes...) and make sure everything is good and prepared for the next tow. Also lunch is provided, our peeps gotta eat!.

When its all said in done the pilot would have flown from about 10am until 5pm with 2 or 3- 30/60 min breaks in between the flights. Usually at the end of the chaos, we bring out the grill, throw tons of steaks, ribs, good eats, grab cold beverages and have a good time.

This is typical at the height of our banner tow season, run by mom and dad, and is usually a schedule seen mainly on weekends and during big events such as Sunfest, or Ultra Festival.

Works out perfect for some who will do this part time, and then work as a CFI, Sky Dive, or charter pilots in the area full time. It's still not enough work to move for or live off of, but hey $30/per Hour + Dunkin + Ribs? easy.

Now as a disclaimer, working for the bigger corporations you will not see stuff like this. Some places you will learn to set the banner up yourself, and work the entire deal by yourself, other places you will fly M-F from morning until dusk, and I've even heard of operator sending pilots our halfway across the country with the airplanes to tow and then come back home.

Also, side note: Insurance will dictate who can work. The more Tail wheel time you have, the happier the insurance company is.
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Holy crap this sounds like an job!
 
SkyhawkFlyer8sp said:
N

Nailed it. That's the one. I applied to that Aerial Banners one as well but didn't hear anything from them.
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Just got a call from them. It was a voicemail saying they need pilots ASAP and they are backed up with customers. I haven't called back yet because I'm weighing options.
 
I'm getting my tail wheel endorsement on Wednesday and I'm gonna throw my resume in as soon as I get it. Hopefully I'll hear back afterwards
 
PIL0T FISH said:
I'm getting my tail wheel endorsement on Wednesday and I'm gonna throw my resume in as soon as I get it. Hopefully I'll hear back afterwards
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The company I'm referring to does not require tailwheel. And they train for the towing operation. So all you need to apply is commercial single engine and at least second class medical.

It's Florida aerial advertising.

thelittlefaa.com

There is a fax number on the website. I faxed my résumé with copy of my license and medical.
 
PIL0T FISH said:
You and me both! I'm in my CFI course now and I feel completely lost and I feel like I'm not getting any quality training where I'm at with my school. I would switch schools but the VA won't let me. So that sucks.
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That sucks man, sorry to hear that. What school is that?
 
Does anyone of you guys know a cheap place , or a person that gives tail wheel endorsements in his airplane?! I am interested in getting my tail wheel .
 
Rudy ghazal said:
Does anyone of you guys know a cheap place , or a person that gives tail wheel endorsements in his airplane?! I am interested in getting my tail wheel .
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Where are you? I know of one place in MD, one in VA and a couple in TX.
 
Rudy ghazal said:
Sorry forgot to add that I am in minnesota
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Well, I dunno any up there. But if you're willing to travel, I can definitely recommend Pro Mark aviation in Burnet, TX. That's where I did my TW training over a weekend. Best flying experience I've ever had.
They're closer to you than any other place I personally know of, but I'm sure there are others which are closer.
 
PM me if you want any info on banner towing. Ive been doing it for 3 years and almost 1000 hours now. Between me and mike wise im sure we can tell you what you need.
 
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