Largest aerial banner -world record set by Falcon Aviation
Services
[Dec 3]ABU DHABI, UAE--Falcon
Aviation Services LLC (FAS), a wholly owned company of HH
Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nayhan, Member of the Executive
Council, took to the skies over Abu Dhabi on UAE National Day to
set a new world record for the largest aerial banner ever flown.
Measuring in excess of 50,000 square feet in
size, the banner was towed under a Bell 412 Aircraft supplied by
Evergreen Helicopters who are current partners with FAS in providing
Search and Rescue services to the UAE Armed Forces.
The previous record had been held by IKEA in Australia,
who flew a banner measuring 47,000 square feet last year.
The banner depicting the UAE flag was clearly
visible from up to 20 kilometers away and the route was specifically
designed to take the flag right across the capital making it visible
to virtually the entire population of the city of Abu Dhabi.
The idea for the sky high celebration on UAE National
Day came initially from HH Sheikh Sultan and the Chairman of FAS,
Captain Salem Al Kayoumi, after FAS had initiated operations to
conduct aerial banner towing as part of its growing aviation business.
“What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than to proudly
display the UAE Flag not only to Abu Dhabi and the UAE, but to the
rest of the world as well,” said Captain Al Kayoumi.
The banner was supplied by Heli Banners, a UK
based company who supply Aerial Banners for marketing purposes using
the world wide patented Helicopter Overcity Banner System (HOBS)
which enables these huge banners to be flown safely over built up
areas. (enlarge
photo)
The HOBS system has undergone extensive evaluation
by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) who have assessed
and approved the FAS aircraft, the HOBS system and the procedures
for use in the UAE.
The record breaking flight was jointly sponsored
by FAS, Marina Mall and the Abu Dhabi International Marine and Sports
Club (ADIMSC). In a joint response the sponsors concurred that this
was yet another first for the UAE and they were all proud of their
contribution towards developing an even greater sense of patriotism.
In addition to their Abu Dhabi based activities,
FAS have also partnered with Trident Aerial, a Dubai based company
who specialise in event marketing and corporate advertising using
the new HOBS Banners which will be flown exclusively by FAS. “In
partnership with FAS we have created a new marketing concept for
the UAE, which in terms of physical mass visibility simply has no
equal,” stated Rob Appleyard, Marketing Director at Trident Aerial.
