CHAPTER 4. BANNER TOW SPECIAL PROVISIONS

RULES TO FOLLOW FOR FLIGHT OPERATIONS. Operations around congested areas or around open-air assembly of persons shall be executed in accordance with a planned course of action with emphasis on selection and availability of emergency landing areas. Due to the area around which such operations are usually conducted (congested areas/open-air assembly of persons), the pilot will exercise special precautions to ensure compliance with section 91.119(a)(b)(c). Operations around congested areas/open-air assemblies must be no lower than 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle. The operator should take into account the lowest point on the trailing banner when determining a helicopter’s correct flight altitude. For safety purposes, the altitude should be sufficient for the aircraft and trailing banner to comply with section 91.119(b)(c). Some banners may extend more than 250 feet behind the aircraft. Operations may be within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet and operations elsewhere shall be in compliance with section 91.119(c). Section 91.119(d) is not applicable to helicopters under the terms of this authorization except near open air assemblies.

NOTE: Due to Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) requirements, distances laterally may be limited to no closer then 3 statue miles.

When banner tow operations are conducted at stadiums, the following limitations are to be included in the certificate of waiver.

  • At no time shall an aircraft fly across a stadium. All flights must be outside the stadium boundary. Check NOTAMs for any TFR requirements.
  • An aircraft overtaking another aircraft shall pass to the outside and well clear of the overtaken aircraft.
  • The direction of flight around a stadium will be established by local policy.

When banner tow operations are being conducted along ocean front beach areas, lakes or rivers, the following limitations are to be included in the Certificate of Waiver.

  • Comply with 14 CFR section 91.119, Minimum Safe Altitudes: General.
  • Before conducting towing operations within Class B, C, or D airspace, each pilot will establish and maintain two-way radio communications with Air Traffic Control (ATC) for coordination purposes and additional instructions or clearances as required by ATC.

Before conducting banner operations:

  • The authorization holder will sign and comply with any ATC banner tow operator’s Letter of Agreement
  • ATC Letters of Agreement or, a copy, will be carried aboard the aircraft during banner tow operations
  • Banner tow operations will be conducted during day visual flight rules (VFR)
  • At no time will an aircraft towing a banner fly directly over another aircraft or fly under another aircraft towing a banner
  • Banner tow operations at airports will be conducted in accordance with ATC clearance or the local standard traffic pattern procedures established by airport management
  • All pilots of banner tow aircraft must adhere to the regulatory requirements regarding seeing and avoiding other aircraft (14 CFR section 91.113(b))
  • All banner tow operators will meet with the issuing FSDO as required to discuss amended, changed, new regulations, flight patterns, TFR’s, or other data deemed necessary by the FSDO
 
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