Your comments please

[Tazuk]

Having looked at the pixel craze I am looking at the idea of doing something similar myself, it is still at the research stage and I would like your comments please.
Would you consider purchasing a 10ftx10ft logo placed on a helicopter banner that would be flown lets say over London and this could be connect with a brochure that gives you a half page description.
The price would be (off the top of my head) £500-700.
The helicopter would fly between 1000-1500 ft.
Is the price too much? What would you consider paying?
Your comments please.

TAZ

[Cornish Steve]

Wouldn't invidivual ads be too small to read from the ground? Is it possible to have a sign that changes every 10 seconds - rather like some billboards you see? I don't know if the technology is available to do that, but then advertisers would share time and not space.

[mattk]

I think it's a bloody great idea. £500 sounds reasonable, not sure how many people on here it would appeal to (at that price), but I'm sure there are lots of large companies who love wacky publicity and to whom 500 quid is a drop in the ocean!

[Tazuk]

Technology is not available for that, and the ads would not be full ads they will be your logo only but that logo would be supported by a ground team who will issue a brochure to the public with your half page ad.

[Jayne]

Why not do a really easy to use business directory, ad site, instead of pixels. Pixels are boring now, well they are boring me to death:lol:

The flying banner is a great idea though :D

Jayne

[Tazuk]

I don't want to do a pixel page i wan to addapt the idea on to my banners.
The banner size is 20,000 sqft but i am looking at producing a 45,000 sqft banner and making the logos bigger.

TAZ

[Jayne]

lol..I thought it ment to advertise the pixel site, sorry Taz. :D

In that case, it's an excellent idea.

Jayne

[Greig]

To be honest I think all those logo's stuck next to eachother would be really confusing from the ground.

Greig

[DavidHorn]

I agree with Greig ... but you could structure it so that there was X amount of space between the logos.

At the sort of dimensions you're talking about, how many logos would be on one banner?

[Mortime Business Software]

At the sort of dimensions you're talking about, how many logos would be on one banner?

If each logo is 10x10 feet, that's 100 square feet. Now just divide the square footage of the banner by 100.

Tazuk. If you could get some radio time, you could perhaps promote a competition which required members of the public to spot a certain logo or something. This might make people watch out for it, and maybe look harder and longer at the banner to win the cash.

You could tell the radio station to use one of those money-making phone lines.

Dave

[Tazuk]

Thanks dave i may look in to that idea, as i said it is only an idea at the moment.

TAZ

[fastfences]

Since I work on the ground (and sometimes under it) I have no idea of this, but don't you need special permits for flying at that altitude?
cheers, Nigel

[Tazuk]

Nigel yes you do but i already fly these banners so I'm mixing what i already do to something that I have seen.

TAZ

[millcrom]

Hi Taz,

Roughly how long would the helicopter be flying, would it literally be a flight around london once, because obviously people want the banner to be seen, if you get what i mean.

Cheers
Sarah

[kartel]

I think this idea is not a good one. what if you inside, you would hear the helicopter but not see it. its hard to see sky sometimes in London let alone a helicopter. maybe use Billboards or taxi's to use for advertising or even buse's.. this is just my opinion. do not mean to offend or critisize the idea.

[10 Yetis]

hmm, what about flying it over the BB house with a message on and put your contact details on the banner?

Been done before, but if you put something controversial on it would get press interest?

[Tazuk]

Yes if you are inside you wouldn't see it but then agai if you are inside you wouldn't see a billboard either. I am not offended by your comments, it is an idea and all comments are welcome. The helicopter will be given 8-10 hours of flying time over a period of 7-10 days and this may not just be in London.

[Kemble3]

From memory I think most of London is covered by the LTMA or London CTR which prohibits entry below 2500ft. Could these banners be seen at this height or would the CAA grant special dispensation for the flights to be made at lower altitude . Good idea though.

[Tazuk]

Kemble that is true but the London heliroutes fall below those restrictions and the CAA have allowed this operation already.

[clairemackaness]

Its potentially a good idea, especially if it's backed up with a radio competition, but people like little old me couldn't afford it.

[Tazuk]

I am trying to bring helicopters services to the small businesses but it will be a long hard slog. But i am confident that small businesses will be able to use helicopters regularly in the future. The aeroplane was expensive in the 1950's but look at it now.

TAZ

[Kemble3]

Perhaps I should convert my PPL (A) to a PPL(H) then I might know what I am talking about.

And you are correct about bring aviation into the smaller business sectors. Peoples perceptions are that it is an expensive mode of transport but in reality it can be extremely cost effective. Last month I took 3 colleagues from Gloucestershire to Newcastle for a meeting, total cost for the trip was £430. No queuing at Heathrow, departed at a time to suit us, (both outbound and inbound) and did the lot in 7 hours.

Mind you, the in-flight catering was a little was a little suspect; the galley in a PA28 could only cope with Coke and peanuts.

[Tazuk]

what types do you fly kemble? The whole banner flying regulations are new to the UK the CAA are still not sure on everything.

[UK2004]

Taz very impressed with your banner towing service! How much approximately is it for the banner to be flown either once over London or a few times in a week and how much to prooduce the banner?

Many thanks.

[Tazuk]

It is approx £40,000+ for manufacture and a 7-10 day campaign that is why I am looking at more affordable solutions for small businesses.

TAZ

[Kemble3]

I fly single engine, fixed wing, 4 seaters, PA28 or Cessna 172.

I’m not very familiar with the banner towing industry but did see an article about helicopters suspending banners in Pilot Magazine a few months back. I do think it’s a real cool idea.

I do think “choppers” are far better vehicles for ad “towing” as you can remain stationary over strategic locations, maybe over a football or cricket ground, or maybe even show grounds. Plus I believe they are capable of lifting larger and heavier banners which has to be a benefit.

Have you considered a double sided banner, which will half the costs to your clients???


Best of luck with this venture.