Banner towing over London
 

There is currently (13:00Z) a single engined light aircraft (C150/180) towing a banner over the City of London, advertising EdF Energy. I was under the impression that there were humungous rules and regs around this, including a ban on single-engined aircraft over London. Can any one advise how this one has been allowed?

I was just thinking the same. He certainly could not glide away from a built up area in the event of engine failure

Could it glide as far as LCY?

Yes (P)FL into London City, LHR no probs!:hmm:

At the height he is at over the city, there is no way he could glide to LCY or LHR! London Hospital heliport - perhaps......

<<Yes (P)FL into London City, LHR no probs!>>

Nice try!!

He was probably at something like 1000 feet and over Kings Cross so FL into City . . . . I think not

Unless things have changed he shouldn't be below 1500 ft there, unless he has dispensation..

Question for HD:

Do you know if there is a blanket ban on single-engined flight over the city? Presumably "specials" like Battle of Britain Flight get dispensation anyway, but banner towing??!!

Someone did the same thing last winter in a 172 over Croydon towing a very large banner - estimated height at times was well under 1000ft, probably 500ft or even lower - no way of gliding clear, and if the banner had been dropped on a major road...

Presumably if an engine failure occurred he could put it in the Thames.

<<Do you know if there is a blanket ban on single-engined flight over the city? Presumably "specials" like Battle of Britain Flight get dispensation anyway, but banner towing??!!>>

One of my currently active colleagues will hopefully reply but I do not know the current situation. When I was operational there was no such restriction providing the pilot could obey the Rules of the Air. No flights by light aircraft were permitted below 1500 ft over Central London but plenty operated at 1500ft.

I seem to remember that there was a pronunciation from the CAA several years ago to the effect that they didn't regard open space in the London area such as parks etc as suitable force landing grounds.That effectively stopped single engine flight over London because it was not possible to comply with the Rules of the Air concerning flight over congested areas.

Saw it over Fleet Street and Ludgate Circus at lunchtime and wondered if rules and regulations had suddenly changed.

I too saw the 180 just east of the junction of Oxford and Regent Street.

Have towed alot myself and tried to buy a business some time ago. The rules were you could tow over London/large city but had to use a twin-and meet all the usual regs in the event.........

As for hight( rule 5), not sure, but that was a big banner and having had engine problems towing before, you don't go far and dropping the banner invites all sorts of issues.

It was a long time ago for me, but I can't see that rules have been relaxed. Interested to know.

Well, that Santa's stuffed then...

Nope - he's definitely 4 engined.

That would be 4dp.....(deer power!!):p

It is most definitely contrary to Rule 5 to operate a SEP aeroplane in the manner so described....

One hopes that certain people in Kingsway were looking out of the window!

As I said previously on another thread. I received dispensation to drop leaflets over London in 1978 for Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida awareness. But that was in an Islander and for a much loved cause.

These days there is in fact a few firms offering these services and they appear to be legal. I would doubt people's assessments of heights though - whatever dispensations were given. Being too low to place the aircraft free of buildings on the ground would be most difficult. Almost impossible in fact. At 500' you would not have a chance! At a 1000' you are still pushing it. I would also say that Tower Bridge would normally be their zone limit. Certainly with one engine. I have looked at the ANO and it is not clear. Is an AOC required? What restrictions are there? Is a CPL required? What exemptions are available etc? All very interesting. The money they charge starts at about £233 per hour. You go up from there.

But a search of Google will give you more hits than you may thought possible. Have a look.

However, I have to say this. Please DO NOT place any links you find on here. They are ALL advertising and they will be removed - and you will not be popular. ;)