Anyone here decide to tow banners instead of instruct? If so what’s the typical amount of hours per month you received towing?
Don,
I do not know anybody who has banner towed, but I can share the following with you. While banner towing might be a good way to build hours, it will do very little to increase your skills as a pilot. You will spend months on end flying up and down the same beach in visual conditions. Contrast this to a CFI that constantly has to stay up on instrument procedures, rules, regulations, etc. You will come out of being a CFI with a wealth of knowledge that will be applicable to the airlines, you would come out of banner towing knowing how to pick up banners and that Applebee’s Two for Twenty special is back.
Chris
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Don,
I actually did some banner towing back in the day. You can build some time but in most states it’s seasonal. Second part is (imho) it’s some pretty dangerous stuff tossing that hook. Third the quality of the time is pretty weak (low and slow day VMC only). It shouldn’t just be about building time, you want to be building experience. When I was hired at XJT back in the day there was another guy hired who only did crop dusting or something similar. Good stick but he couldn’t shoot an ILS and washed out.
Adam
I’m looking to tow for about 3 months. Than instruct after to finish out my 1500 hours. I’m really just curious how many hours I can accumulate in those 3 summer months at the beach.
Don,
I flew 4-6hrs a day 5 days a week for one summer. I’d have to check my logbook but it was somewhere around 80-90hrs a month?
Adam
I was planning on starting ATP very beginning of next year (already have my private). Than right after completion spend the summer in Ocean City MD towing a banner (we own a condo there). Hoping to bust out somewhere between 300-400 hours towing. Than come back home (just south of Baltimore) and finish out my hours instructing.
Don,
Small world! I also used to own PizzaBoy on 11th and the Boards a million years ago 
Adam
That’s crazy. Is a super small world. Our condo is on 28th street next to Jolly Rodgers.
I know JR well. Spent much time there when my kids were young.
Adam
Love me some Jolly Rodgers. My kids love it too. I have couple hundred hours most of which are flying from Martin State Airport to Ocean City Airport. 
. Also have at least 20 hours flying to Badder Field Atlantic City. Great place to live and fly. Having a condo at the beach you can’t beat flying. 2.5 hour drive or45 min flight. No brainer.
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