Banner Tows and Blimps Could Be Prohibited From Sports Venues

Banner planes and blimps - staples of sporting events nationwide - appear set to go the way of the dodo. Advertising flights over sports venues would be banned from one hour before an event to one hour after under a bill adopted by the US House of Representatives.

The provision adopted by the House last week is part of a spending bill. It was backed by the NFL, Major League and others.

Under the proposed legislation, the banner ban would be in effect for one year after the spending bill is enacted. The Senate is expected to pass the bill and send it to President Bush for his signature.

Helicopters and blimps used to provide broadcast coverage of sporting events would still be allowed under the new legislation, as would regular commercial flights under the watchful eyes of air traffic controllers.

Death Of An Industry

Aerial advertisers said this bill will destroy their livelihoods, leaving an entire industry in shambles. They say they were already in trouble even before the Sept. 11 attacks because big corporations want control over stadium advertising.

Harold Ibele, vice president of the U.S. Aerial Advertisers Association, said there are about 400 aerial advertisers nationwide with an average of three banner-towing planes each.

"This will close the lid on the coffin and start driving in the nails," said Ibele. "We're just a bunch of little frogs in a big pond."

But Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan defended the measure, which he helped insert into the spending bill. "This is really stadium security. Particularly in these times, with the terror alert at Level Orange, there is a real concern," Upton said.

The Federal Aviation Administration banned flights above stadiums with more than 30,000 people after the terrorist attacks. The government soon began granting waivers for companies flying advertisements, but all the waivers were pulled when the country went on Orange Alert for the Sept. 11 anniversary. Those waivers have been pulled since the terror threat assessment was raised to Level Orange earlier this month.

FMI: www.tsa.gov, www.outdooraerialads.com