Banners from Heaven - A Papal Request

A banner for his Holiness, the Pope was the first request of the day but without a little divine intervention, it's not possible and I doubt the Lord himself could convince the authorities to allow me to overfly the Papal motorcade in either London or Birmingham.

Instead then, we'll be flying a banner for 'Moshi Moshi' over Brighton beach this Saturday and the weather looks  set to deliver another scorcher with some thunderstorms thrown in for good measure!

Margate's Big Event 2010

After several years of sunshine at this annual event, the weather was marginal for Margate's 'Big Event' at Palm Bay, with a howling north-easterly blowing for much of the weekend and bursts of rain.

Fortunately the display aircraft managed to struggle in for their performances, with thrills from the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain memorial flight arranging a mock dogfight with an ME109, pictured.

After being grounded by the strong winds at the beginning of both Saturday and Sunday, the weather cleared just in time for a Red Arrows finale on the second day and Airads followed in with a sheet banner behind them. Better last than never!

New Town Killers Goes High

A reasonably varied weekend for Airads with one wedding banner at Lewes in Sussex, a test  flight sheet banner for www.tradeshop.org.uk which will fly by before the Margate 'Big Event' air show next weekend and a banner for the New Town Killers band, at an event outside Milton Keynes.

Coming-up, we're scheduled for 'Superbikes' at Silverstone and a handful of marriage proposals with yet one more booked along Brighton beach. 'Captain Cupid' strikes again, I fear!

At the Races - Epsom 2010

Airads headed over to the races at Epsom today with a banner for Mercedez Benz. The racecourse doesn't like advertising around its airspace and the inclusion of an air traffic zone for helicopters working the races forced us to keep our distance from the spectacle and work the approach road instead.

When this was all finished, we headed over to Leeds castle and Brighton beach for marriage proposals, so congratulations to both Priti and Karen who both said 'Yes' on this special day for both of them.

To Norwich with Aviva

A successful welcome to Norwich FC over the city last night with an Airads banner, sponsored by Aviva, following the team bus. Meanwhile, this morning Airads was having a good look at the London 2012 Olympic stadium, which you can see has some way to go before it's ready for the athletes!

Sky Banners and UKIP Aircraft Accident

Airads would like to send the company’s best wishes to pilot, Justin Adams of Sky Banners Ltd and UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, following the accident involving the UKIP election banner on Election Day that left both pilot and passenger in hospital.

The aerial advertising business in the UK is governed by CAA regulations and enjoys an unprecedented safety record. In the last week, Airads was also towing banners for UKIP, the Liberal Democrats and the Independent candidates during the week and we were shocked to hear of the incident last Thursday and relieved to hear that both men survived the aircraft crash landing, which is now being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation branch in order to ascertain its causes. We all hope to learn valuable operational lessons from its conclusions.

We wish both Justin Adams and Nigel Farage a speedy recovery and return to good health!

Nigel Farage Plane Banner Incident

Airads was not flying the UKIP banner today with Nigel Farage in Northampton.The aircraft involved, from another operator, was involved in an incident and both the pilot and Nigel Farage are reportedly being treated for minor injuries.


Airads was in fact flying another banner for UKIP over Birmingham and Coventry over the weekend (pictured) but without any incidents.

Captain Cupid Strikes Again - Another Successful Marriage Proposal

'Captain Cupid' strikes again with more  happy couple this weekend with a marriage proposal from Dave to Emma which saw the banner fly over the Anfield stadium and the Liverpool vs Chelsea match and earn a special mention in the newspapers!

Congratulations to the two of them. Airads lost count of the number of  unbroken, successful flying marriage proposals a long time ago, once these passed the 100 mark!

'Tom and George Still Not Welcome' - Another One for Anfield

Another banner over Liverpool's Anfield ground this afternoon for the club's supporters with the message: 'Tom and George Still Not Welcome' flying behind it. A little later we had a marriage proposal going in the same direction for another of the fans, so very much a game of two halves for the crowds being entertained in the stadium below!

Liverpool v Atlético Madrid - Airads & Channel 5 TV

Liverpool, Anfield this evening for Channel 5 Television with their bespoke banner, showing their logo and earlier today, I was over Reading in Berkshire towing a banner for Acorn HIPS.

The weather has been steadily breaking down all day and I had to cut short the Reading flight after I found myself flying through a 'car wash.'

Airads has a busy Bank Holiday weekend ahead, starting with a two hour detail for UKIP around the western side of Birmingham and finishing with a marriage proposal from the Isle of Wight on Monday afternoon.

Strangely enough, we have two more Anfield flights booked for Sunday, one for a fan who wants to propose to his partner and the other for the official Liverpool fans at Midday. I'm hoping that the weather in Cheshire will be rather better than the awful forecast now confronting me for south-east England from Saturday night to Monday morning!

Cameron 2010 - Flying the Flag

A surprise for David Cameron, with a banner message: 'CAMERON 2010@No10' this morning at Grays in Essex!

There was a large reception committee in evidence in the playing field behind the school or college below, with TV outside broadcast vans with satellite dishes on their roofs, parked-up outside. On teh way back to the airfield I passed a very smart looking Agusta helicopter, en route to Grays,, I asusme to pick him up for his next appointment.

I've some photos in my camera and will try and put one up later, as I'm typing this between jobs at the airfield.

Next-up is the pop concert the afternoon at Camber Sands, with a rather different message and one that to be honest ,as a simple pilot I'm too old to understand: "WHEN HARD CREW RULED THE WORLD."

Now, if only someone would tell us what Gordon Brown's schedule is, we could have a special election message flown for him too!

St Georges Day at Bradford

Airads was flying a giant St George's Day flag over Bradford today, following the annual procession with the huge banner that the city purchased for such special occasions, last year.

Jimbo Loves Jo Jo Over Leeds Castle

Another romantic flight over Leeds Castle again this week, with a special message for "Jo Jo" from "Jimbo" that he loves her with "ALL HIS HEART."

One of the finest days of the year too!

Airads Flies the Brighton Marathon

Airads was flying a banner over the first Brighton marathon this morning. On the way there, I found I was the only pilot in the entire south of England on frequency with London information, the threat of volcanic dust, having convinced many pilots to stay on the ground.

However, dust is only a real threat to jet aircraft at high altitude and not piston engine aircraft at low level with dust filters fitted to their engines as standard.

Brighton was basking in warm sunshine and haze, a glorious day for its inaugural marathon race and below, thousands of runners could be seen on a winding circuit through the town

Our client on this occasion was based in the United States and had a personal message for one of the runners:

"GOOD LUCK BIG BIRD - I LOVE YOU!"

Hopefully 'Big Bird' was insprired by the message flying overhead!