Behind the Banners: How Ocean Aerial Ads Operates

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Thousands of beach goers in Ocean City look towards the sky during the summer, and see giant banner advertisements carried by plane.

Bob Bunting is the owner of Ocean Aerial Ads, which operates out of an airfield in the outskirts of Berlin. Bunting explained the common curiosity behind their day-to-day operations.

“What they don’t understand is how the banners are picked up.” Said Bunting. “We get call after call about that, and they say, how do they do? Do they take off with them? What do they do?”

Mornings at bunting air field begin with preparation. From rolling out signs, to fueling up the planes. Once the banners are set up, it’s time for the “catch.” After takeoff, the pilots stay low to the ground, and release a grappling hook connected to the tail of the plane, which grabs onto the loop of rope on the ground. Weights on the sides of the banner help it to stay upright as it unravels and makes the advertisement visible.

Although the process may seem complicated, for banner pilot Gretta Thorwarth, it’s another day in paradise.

“You know, it’s kind of peaceful, actually.” Said Thorwarth. “For me, it’s like the one time that I can kind of just set and fly and be low to the ground and not get in trouble and just be left alone.”

Once the planes are up the air, and the banners are on full display, pilots can circle the variety of loops on Delmarva’s coast for up to 8 hours.

“Being 300ft up from the beach is so such a totally different perspective from being on the beach, being on the ground.” Said Thorwarth. “And you kind of realize how small and fragile things are, you know?”

Ocean Aerial Ads runs banners Friday-Sunday throughout the summer season, with occasional flight in the off-season.