San Diego Banner Tow

[av8trxx]

It sure does sound like an accident waiting to happen reading the NTSB report about how they grab the banner.

That is pretty much how banner pick ups go everywhere.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw-A4gsi848

....unless you don't do it exactly as you should. It was tragic for Kristen Richards, but it should not have happened.

Try Air Ads. They have a better rep and don't have a training contract. My pal has been flying for them on & off for 8 years even though he now has a Citation gig. Says he'd never work for Banner Joe.

 

[sdfcvoh]

Thanks for posting that link. Doesn't seem so bad once you watch a few of the clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw-A4gsi848

 

[aloft]

Talked to these guys yesterday. Apparently they really need pilots,

Sounds like what they really want are paying customers for their training program. I'd stay away from this one, it smells.

 

[SoCalPilotGuy]

:yeahthat:

 

[towhook]

I have banner towed many many hours and still do part time on occasion. I have seen banner ops all over the country and most all disappoint me. The only two I would suggest for someone looking for a job are Van Wagner Aerial Media (who I work for) and Aerial Sign North (based in NJ). I am sure there are other good ops out there, but they are far and few between.

Check out some of what we do at http://www.vanwagner.com/aerial/
Knowing what I know now I wouldn't tow for anyone else.

 

[mkusch]

Sounds like what they really want are paying customers for their training program. I'd stay away from this one, it smells.

I think I'm seeing first hand why pilot's are required to pay the training costs. Guys come in and train, get signed off, and start building hours. Before they even get underway in the season "something better comes up" and they're gone. Banner tow sign off and free training with no commitment...Now that's a deal! Put some skin in the game and maybe the flakes will move on down the road. I've been towing for 15 years, get paid great for an ASEL job, and the boss takes care of his faithful pilots. When I trained I didn't pay for it but over the years enough guys have walked off leaving the rest of us to pick up the slack that the pay for your training was instituted.

Marty

 

[Joe Gremlin]

I personally wouldn't do this kind of flying due to the accident history involving this type of activity.

If you consider hours flown, banner ops have a lower accident rate than most other part 91 ops.

 

[Joe Gremlin]

Gave them a call. I currently have 460 TT. They want you to pay $2900 for their training program (10-20 hours ground & 10-15 hours a/c). Sounds a little steep to me. What does everyone else think? Anyone else talked to them and have any feedback?

Run from this. There are several banner outfits which charge new hires for training but most others don't. All of the outfits that charge for training that I'm familiar with are places you would not want to work even if the training was free.

 

[sschlesinger]

I have banner towed many many hours and still do part time on occasion. I have seen banner ops all over the country and most all disappoint me. The only two I would suggest for someone looking for a job are Van Wagner Aerial Media (who I work for) and Aerial Sign North (based in NJ). I am sure there are other good ops out there, but they are far and few between.

Check out some of what we do at http://www.vanwagner.com/aerial/
Knowing what I know now I wouldn't tow for anyone else.

Out of curiosity what are their required times.

 

[surfCRQ]

Just watched all the videos of pickups. WOW that looks fun/ scary. I think I'd rather be a diver driver or a CFI. Everytime Im in the water and I see a banner tow go by it looks like it is in deep slow flight. Just looks crazy. To those about to rock... We salute you. That job is not for me.

 

[towhook]

Out of curiosity what are their required times.

Comm ASEL. This year most of the new guys had some tailwheel experience, but that is not required.

 

[rbtower2]

I have banner towed many many hours and still do part time on occasion. I have seen banner ops all over the country and most all disappoint me. The only two I would suggest for someone looking for a job are Van Wagner Aerial Media (who I work for) and Aerial Sign North (based in NJ). I am sure there are other good ops out there, but they are far and few between.

Check out some of what we do at http://www.vanwagner.com/aerial/
Knowing what I know now I wouldn't tow for anyone else.

I was just wondering how much they pay and what a typical paycheck looks like at Van Wagner?

 

[Joe Gremlin]

Everytime Im in the water and I see a banner tow go by it looks like it is in deep slow flight. Just looks crazy. To those about to rock... We salute you. That job is not for me.

Yep, it's slow flight all day. But pretty much every 10 year old on the planet knows that if he wants his kite to be more stable, he's got to put a big long tail on it. What'd ya think that banner is? Except on pickup, you couldn't spin a banner plane if you wanted to. And after your first 10 hours, you'll never fear or even think twice about slow flight again.

Last year I wanted to rent from a new FBO so I went for a checkout in one of their warriors. The CFI said let's see some slow flight, put in full flaps and fly at 60 knots. I said I can fly at 60 knots with flaps or I can show you slow flight. Which would you rather see? He picked 60 knots/full flaps. Wimp.

 

[towhook]

I was just wondering how much they pay and what a typical paycheck looks like at Van Wagner?

I am grandfathered in on a older pay scale, so I don't know all the details for the new guys. From what I understand the new guys are getting $20/hr for ferrying and $40/hr to tow. They start at $30-35 or something and move up to 40 after some number of hours have been towed. There is also per diem of $30/day and hotel/rental car is taken care of.

The number of hours depends on what kind of job you are on. If you are following Nascar around you may only tow 8-12 hrs a week and ferry 4 give or take. On the other hand over Memorial Day in NJ or CA you may fly 8+ hrs a day for a week straight. I have had assignments flying 4-5 hrs a day 7 days a week for months on end. There is a variety of options and while there is no official seniority the guys who have been around longer end up getting put where they want.

 

[towhook]

Yep, it's slow flight all day. But pretty much every 10 year old on the planet knows that if he wants his kite to be more stable, he's got to put a big long tail on it. What'd ya think that banner is? Except on pickup, you couldn't spin a banner plane if you wanted to. And after your first 10 hours, you'll never fear or even think twice about slow flight again.

Last year I wanted to rent from a new FBO so I went for a checkout in one of their warriors. The CFI said let's see some slow flight, put in full flaps and fly at 60 knots. I said I can fly at 60 knots with flaps or I can show you slow flight. Which would you rather see? He picked 60 knots/full flaps. Wimp.

Word.

After banner towing there have been a few rides/interviews where I have been asked to perform slow flight. It definitely becomes a flight regime where ex-banner pilots excel.

 

[ntbjounin]

anyone know if they still need pilots? towing w/ a 150? at least its 180hp... i may check it out.

 

[SFCC/UND]

You brought back six old threads from the dead. What you should do is try and call them to see if they are hiring.

 

[Nark]

I'm sure Banner Joe is looking for more pilots to "train".

Whether you fly, I don't know. He doesn't look nearly as busy as the other operation.

Also the beach season is winding down, so I can only imagine there is less flying banners in the fall/winter.