The ban on skywriting – in which planes pen messages in the air using smoke – could be lifted after 60 years.
Skywriting and skytyping, where multiple planes are used in formation, were banned in 1960 due to safety concerns.
However, a new public consultation opened by the Department for Transport could see the prohibition repealed.
The DfT also said it wanted to amend regulations from 1995 to allow “advertising activities of skytyping and skywriting to be lawfully conducted”.
The practice involves planes emitting smoke while in the air at between 7,000ft and 14,000ft, with messages visible for around four minutes.
Most recently an example of skywriting in Sydney, Australia hit the news after someone wrote 'Wash hands' in the skies above the city as it attempts to battle a Covid-19 outbreak.
If skywriting were to return it could be used for mass outdoor events like music festivals and sporting fixtures, and would bring an estimated £4 million in tax revenue in five years.
The DfT said: “Skywriting is expected to generate activity in the form of enhancement to existing air displays and private individuals could use it for personal messages, such as marriage proposals or birthday celebrations.
“It is important to stress that the potential additional emissions resulting from skytyping and skywriting activities are expected be minimal and have a negligible impact overall on lead emissions in the UK.”
