banner towing. Good Idea?

[FlyUofI]

I've read a lot of the info on the web about banner towing, are there any tow pilots here that want to offer some wisdom? A couple of the pilots at UofI are going to NJ to tow banners. Where are the places to look for jobs, what do the employers look for in pilots?

Oh, at the risk of sounding more green than usual what the hell is "PFT".

 

[LR25]

I been towing for several years, its a good time, I definetely reccomend it.

What do they look for? You cant be timid when it comes to that kind of flying. You also cant be stupid. It is a safe environment, as long as YOU make it safe. If you do it dangerously, you will likely suffer the consequenses.

I was hired on with a company, and just a few weeks before I showed up, a guy dragged one through the tops of the trees becuase he turned too early, he did about a 3/4 turn and went straight in, dead!

You always leave yourself an out.

I have a few eye opening stories from my years of doing it, some I provoked, some I didnt.

All in all, I love it, its the most fun I have had in an airplane, and the most bored, mostly fun though.

What ever you do, dont get caught up in this scam where you get charged $3000 for training, thats a bunch of BS.

It dont take long, you usually will come around in about a weeks worth of pickups.

Go for it, good luck.

 

[OtterFO]

I towed for 3 seasons, and had a ball. Worked for two good operators and one lousy one. Watch maintance, don't let an operator talk you into flying an airplane you don't feel is airworthy and get comfortable flying in the stall buffet... I'd do it again without hesitation.

 

[FlyUofI]

sounds like it would be fun. I have nothing holding me in Illinois, where do I need to go to start looking.

 

[tangodelta21]

When I started looking for a banner job I made a few phone calls and loaded up the car and headed to South Florida. I was going to work my way north until I found a job or hit Canada. I got a job at the first place I got to, Aerial Banners at HWO. I had a great time and learned alot. Like LR25 said always leave yourself an out and it's better to be high than low and don't let your meat loaf.

 

[Timebuilder]

As far as your second question, click on the "search" button, type in those three letters, and you can read posts for DAYS on the subject.

Summary: don't do it.

 

[FlyUofI]

Thanks for the help guys.
RGS.