BeachBum82

Don't let anyone tell you that towing banners is a waste of time, or that you won't be able to get a job anywhere else. That is just not true, most people in my experience that towed banners and then couldn't move on had some other hang up that kept them from getting a job. (Most of the time it was their personality to be quite honest). I'm a current airline pilot, former corporate and corporate international guy, and my family owns a banner towing operation. We have well maintained airplanes and the business has seen nothing but steady growth for the past 6 years even in a crummy economy. As a matter of fact with the way a lot of people fly these days, I would pick someone who flew banners, crop dusted, did power line patrol, flew night freight ect... over a CFI. Main reason, chances are if you are still breathing and typing you can actually fly an airplane. Nothing against instructing, it has it's place for sure. As far as your time, I know that we typically hire guys with the minimum commercial time. We also take the time to train you properly, and no you don't have to pay for it. I would never go to work anywhere that you have to PAY FOR YOUR OWN training. This includes airline, corporate ect..that is a huge red flag.The only time we have ever asked for someone to pay was after almost 10 hours of instruction from myself personally, the individual was just not getting it. Mostly because he just didn't care, he was a friend of a friend and thought he was just entitled to the job. It was more of a way to just get him to leave. Plus there comes a point were it's no longer cost effective to continue trying to train someone like that. If I don't think you can do it, I will tell you.

As for the guys in MYR and DAB, I know of all of them well. ( One of my good friends when in the drink in MYR in a Super Cub) And have had dealings with them. Are they any more dangerous than anyone else? I don't know about that, it's been my experience in flying lots of different types of planes in different jobs that things happen and planes break. It has happened to me. I think the major issue is that guys and girls come from a nice flight school flying a nice Piper or Cessna and that is what they are used to. It's always fixed, if it's windy you don't go, ect ect ect. Then they get their first job towing and its a shock when the boss says go. It's like that everywhere. Don't kid yourself if you think otherwise.

If you already have a tailwheel endorsement and time, you should not require any training contract or pay for training. If they would like to fly with you for an hour to make sure you are what you say, then that would be fine. The only hang up I could see is if their insurance required so much time in type. Very typical scenario, usually 10 hours. Best bet is the call the company and sell yourself and see what you get. By the way where are you going to school? Liberty? Feel free to PM me.

ABerry23

thelittlefaa.com is hiring urgently, according to Climbto350 for Banner Towing. It's in St. Petersburg, FL.

honda212

Great!! Do you have any more info regarding the job opening from climbto350? I do not have an account with them, but will be calling down to St. Petersburg tomorrow. Thank you.

exnavy

Buyer beware. If "The Little FAA" is run by the same B.B. I knew when I was a kid, that guy is insane. They threw him out of SRQ for fist fighting with the banner tow competition. If I'm not mistaken, the FAA also yanked his medical for Lithium dependency. Have fun with that one.

smugglersblues

yellow airplanes with "FAA" in big letters---issues !

hotbwayjoel

I've learned that you don't want to come within a 50nm radius of that place.

SkyStormer6

There are 2 different companies based in Hollywood. If you do have to ditch in the water, I'd leave the banner on. Not because it would extend your gliding distance, cause that obviously won't happen, but because when the banner hits the water it will help keep the plane from flipping over. Kinda like an anchor. Or cut the banner and try to glide to the shore and hope you don't hit some kid and/or his sand castle. Either way the plane and banner will probably get trashed. And then you will need to get trashed!

fjetter

I'd keep it on as it may help with SAR efforts in spotting the airplane. You may be unable to swim to shore.

PilotJ3

Really?? Wasted of time??

Let me tell you kid. I'm still a kid too (23 yr old). I did banner town before gettig my CFI. You will learn how to really maintain coordinated airplane, fly really slow will help your stick and rudder. And flying stick will help you to transition to the right seat, since you fly with the power in left and stick in right.

I did banner towing and instructed for 2 years. Best experience I had. And I gained more money flying banners than instructing. ($30 per hr vs. 20 instructing per hr). They also pay me minimum federal salary per hour on the ground.

So don't listen to the guys that tells you is a waste of time.

I flew after that 135 cargo, everybody like that hired me like my banner experience, even A. Eagle (which is where I am right now after 3 years in ga planes).

Don't listen to guys here, make your own decisions. You'll do fine.

smugglersblues

Anybody have the good, bad and ugly on the Van Wagners ?? It seems they are the best if there is such a thing in the rag dragging biz.