
HELI-D CEO Simon Powell on Turning the Sky Into Digital Media
From AdTechGod Pod by AdTechGod, The AdTech God
May 21, 2026 · 16 min
About this episode
Simon Powell discusses how HELI-D is transforming out-of-home advertising with innovative aerial digital billboards.
In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Simon Powell, CEO of HELI-D, shares how his company is redefining out-of-home advertising with flying digital billboards attached to helicopters. From launching campaigns for MTV, Disney, Pepsi, Xbox, and VaynerX to creating immersive aerial activations that generate massive earned media, Simon breaks down the future of flying digital media and why emotional, high-impact advertising still matters. The conversation explores the evolution of aerial advertising, the technology powering HELI-D's LED helicopter screens, QR code engagement at massive live events, and what comes next for digital out-of-home, including drones and integrated media experiences. Takeaways HELI-D evolved from traditional helicopter banners into fully digital flying LED billboards. Simon Powell transitioned from investment banking into aviation and advertising entrepreneurship. Early innovation included projection technology that turned helicopter banners into flying cinema screens. HELI-D’s breakthrough campaign debuted at the MTV VMAs with Viacom in 2016. Disney partnered with HELI-D for large-scale experiential aerial activations. The company has executed campaigns for…
People in this episode
Host: AdTechGod
Guest: Simon Powell
Topics covered
- out-of-home advertising
- digital media
- aerial advertising
- LED technology
- emotional advertising
- campaign strategies
Keywords
- HELI-D
- digital billboards
- aerial advertising
- LED screens
- emotional advertising
- campaigns
- technology
- earned media
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: HELI-D, MTV, Disney, Pepsi, Xbox, VaynerX, Viacom
Products: QR code
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