Goodyear's Newest Blimp Pilot Takes Flight

CARSON, Calif., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) today announced that Nathan Brooks has become its newest blimp pilot following his "check flight" at the company's Airship Operations facility in Carson, California.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090928/LA82930)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050204/GTLOGO)

Brooks, 29, joins Pilot-in-Charge Jon Conrad, Assistant Pilot-in-Charge Matthew St. John and Senior Pilot Kristen Davis as pilots for the California-based "Spirit of America" airship.

According to Goodyear, there are fewer blimp pilots than there are astronauts, so Brooks joins an elite group. Goodyear now has twelve blimp pilots and currently operates three airships, the "Spirit of America" in Carson, the "Spirit of Goodyear" in Akron, Ohio, and the "Spirit of Innovation" in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Brooks grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts. While still in high school, he joined the National Guard. Following graduation, Brooks attended Framingham State College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2003, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and a concentration in Environmental Studies.

Goodyear blimps are used to promote Goodyear's business, support customers, help charities and provide the best aerial views of major television events. The tiremaker's blimp tradition began in 1925 when it built its first airship, the "Pilgrim." For more information on the Goodyear Blimp, visit www.goodyearblimp.com.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs nearly 70,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 60 facilities in 25 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information on Goodyear, please visit www.goodyeartires.com.