Drone Startup Sustainable Skylines Wins FAA Approval for Banner-Towing Drones

Sustainable Skylines, a Miami-based startup, has secured the first FAA approval in the United States for drone-powered aerial advertising. The company, founded in 2021 by Jacob Stonecipher, aims to replace smoke-belching airplanes with electric drones capable of towing large banners across crowded beaches and urban skylines, reports Business Insider. The approval marks a significant milestone in the modernization of an industry still dominated by World War II-era aircraft.

From Idea to FAA Backing

Stonecipher first conceived the idea in 2016 while on the Jersey shore, where he was struck by the noise and pollution of traditional banner planes. After years of cold-calling drone manufacturers and testing prototypes with engineers in Maryland, he demonstrated a working model to FAA officials in 2021. “The FAA basically gave me their blessing to proceed,” Stonecipher recalled, describing early meetings with the agency’s UAS Integration Office. By 2022, Sustainable Skylines had moved operations to Miami—home to one of the busiest aerial advertising markets in the U.S.—and launched its first prototype flights.

First Commercial Flights Over Miami

In November 2023, the company achieved its first FAA-approved demonstration, towing a banner for 10 miles over Miami Beach. The following spring break, Sustainable Skylines completed its first paid campaign for a sunglasses company, signaling that drone-powered aerial advertising could transition from concept to commercial reality. The company has since opened a production facility to scale operations. With $2.8 million in seed funding secured and institutional fundraising planned, Sustainable Skylines is positioning itself as a pioneer in a market long overdue for disruption.

Expanding Beyond Advertising

While banner towing is the company’s entry point, Stonecipher sees broader potential. His team—which includes his mother as CFO and a former U.S. Army Special Operations officer as head of government solutions—plans to explore additional applications for their drone technology.

“Building this business has been way harder than I anticipated,” Stonecipher said, “but it’s been the greatest ride of my life.”

DroneXL’s Take

Sustainable Skylines’ FAA approval highlights how drones can transform legacy industries that have seen little innovation in decades. The ability to replace noisy, fuel-intensive aircraft with electric drones offers clear environmental and safety benefits, while opening a new market for drone manufacturers and advertisers alike.

The question now is scalability. Can Sustainable Skylines build drones that handle longer flight times, heavier payloads, and more complex regulatory requirements? If successful, this model could set a precedent for other commercial drone applications.

What do you think—will banner-towing drones become a common sight at beaches and stadiums, or remain a niche experiment? Share your thoughts in the comments.