How to exit runway with tow banner?

Badger

Badger

Pattern Altitude
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
2,136
Display Name
Badger
Home Airfield
KMSN
I'm at my desk and I noticed a plane overhead, and it's towing a banner. I got to thinking....how does this plane exit the runway with that long tow rope and banner?

I'm thinking he/she must stop on the runway, remove banner/rope, then continue to taxi off.
Is it necessary to make additional announcements (if CTAF) like "will advise when clear of runway"... or similar? If towered, they likewise must space accordingly?

Turning off with that long drag would have be challenging with lights, signage, etc.
 
Badger said:
I'm at my desk and I noticed a plane overhead, and it's towing a banner. I got to thinking....how does this plane exit the runway with that long tow rope and banner?

I'm thinking he/she must stop on the runway, remove banner/rope, then continue to taxi off.
Is it necessary to make additional announcements (if CTAF) like "will advise when clear of runway"... or similar? If towered, they likewise must space accordingly?

Turning off with that long drag would have be challenging with lights, signage, etc.
Click to expand...
Banners are dropped before landing.
 
I've never towed banners but have hundreds of glider tows.

The airport where I lived at the time was huge glider center, & still is. Since we pull a long rope after the glider has released it's an issue.

The port had modified the runways & taxiways for our ropes. The put stakes in the ground at the intersections so we wouldn't get hung up on a taxi light.

You had to cognizant while you maneuvered around the airport that you had a long tail.
 
saddletramp said:
You had to cognizant while you maneuvered around the airport that you had a long tail.
Click to expand...

Nothing like seeing the tow hook go by about 30' AGL right above all the parked gliders and people to remind you the tow pilot is a newbie today. LOL.

You hear it coming before you see it, once you realize the tow plane newbie just went over too low. It's a sizzling noise kinda, and you stare at the rope hoping he doesn't hit a downdraft or descend any further... while wondering why he's not over the grass. :)
 
I tow gliders, not banners. Ropes have very little drag compared to a banner.
Banners have a lot of places to snag things on the ground when landing and will destroy a banner, let alone what it might do to the tow plane. Hopefully a fully functioning weak link is used. Drop the banner before landing.

Landing with a rope is no issue, again a weak link on the tow end just in case. And don't snag the rope on the airport fence or threshold lights. Our "glider operations" runway has no lights to snag ropes or interfere with long glider wings.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top