Ultimate right-of-way directives for aircraft operating in the United States were recently changed granting precedent to any aircraft with a banner in tow.

In the past, law enforcement, electronic news gathering and lighter-than-air were granted right-of-way with banner towing aircraft yielding.

Banner tow operators lobbied officials to change the ultimate right-of-way order due to overall prop to banner tail lengths now exceeding more than twice the length of the largest airships flying today. Another concern was with the increase in rotor craft towing banners and their related slower tow speeds.

Click the photo below to see an example of why overall prop to banner tail lengths were an important part of the new ruling.



by: Winston McIntosh
BIGUP NEWS - (August, 2006)