Goodyear's Newest Blimp Pilot Takes to the Skies

Nathan Brooks has become the latest to sign on as a Goodyear blimp pilot following his “check flight" at the company's Airship Operations facility in Carson, California. The 29-year old 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, thus Brooks has joined what can be considered 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. Goodyear blimps are used to promote Goodyear’s business, support customers, help charities and provide the some of the best aerial views of major television events. The tyre maker’s blimp tradition began in 1925 when it built its first airship, the “Pilgrim.”