Hogan Lovells advises Sustainable Skylines on launch of groundbreaking drone banner advertising over Miami beach skyline

The first of-its-kind inaugural flights flown along Miami Beach over the weekend featured an Ad Council banner ad for the nonprofit’s campaign centered on raising awareness about the dangers of buzzed driving. As the first FAA-approved drone banner towing advertising company, Sustainable Skylines sets a new standard for sustainable, impactful, safe, and measurable out-of-home advertising.

“Sustainable Skylines’ inaugural flight along Miami Beach, made possible by the dedication of our team and the expert guidance of Lisa Ellman and her team at Hogan Lovells, marks a significant milestone for the advanced aviation industry,” said Jacob Stonecipher, founder and CEO of Sustainable Skylines. “We are excited to offer brands a groundbreaking, environmentally sustainable advertising solution that harnesses the power of commercial drone technology to transform how businesses engage with their audiences.”

Sustainable Skylines’ eco-friendly drone technology minimizes pollution and eliminates the safety risks associated with traditional manned aircraft banner towing. Custom-made hybrid drones significantly reduce the environmental impact of aerial advertising, eliminating more than 90% of carbon emissions and 40% of noise pollution compared to airplanes. And because drones are highly automated, the very real risks aircraft pilots take to fly banners are eliminated.

“We congratulate Sustainable Skylines on the launch of the first-ever drone advertising operation,” said Lisa Ellman, partner and chair of Hogan Lovells’ UAS practice. “Drone banner-towing offers a sustainable, quieter, and safer alternative to traditional aerial advertising methods, further demonstrating the value of commercial uncrewed systems. While there is still a pressing need for the issuance of Part 108 to fully unlock the potential of this industry in the United States, securing a BVLOS waiver for this first-of-its-kind use case is a significant win for the entire sector.”

Sustainable Skylines has achieved a significant milestone by receiving the first exemption and waiver enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone banner towing operations. Granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), this waiver allows the company to fly BVLOS of the pilot using strategically placed observers along the coastline.

Following a successful launch along Miami Beach, Sustainable Skylines will roll out nationwide, bringing its innovative approach to aerial advertising to brands across the country.