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Volume 1, Issue 1  GOODYEAR
COST-EFFECTIVE RADIALS
SELECTED TO OUTFIT NEW, LOW COST CARRIER
Donald Roulett, global marketing manager for Goodyear aviation tires, said the company is well positioned for airlines seeking to lower operational costs with radial tires. Melbourne-based Jetstar Airways will operate a planned all-Airbus fleet of 23 A320 aircraft throughout Australia and Asia. "Jetstar's selection of the Goodyear Flight Radial on the Airbus A320 represents a trend for cost-conscious airlines," Roulett said. "The switch from bias-ply tires to cost-effective radials is easily justified." Radial tires deliver more landings per tread and offer extra load-carrying capacity, adding up to reduced overall operational costs. Goodyear Flight Radials also weigh up to 20 percent less than conventional aircraft tires, with improved rolling resistance and increased fuel efficiency, Roulett said. Goodyear is committed to growing its global radial tire share among cost-sensitive airlines and jet manufacturers. Last year, Goodyear radials were selected for the Airbus A320 fleets of Russia's largest carrier, Aeroflot Russian Airlines, and Mexico's Mexicana Airlines. Other huge fleets of Airbus A320 and A319 aircraft operating on Goodyear Flight Radials include Lufthansa, All Nippon Airlines and Air Canada. "With cost consciousness and value on everyone's minds, the radial tire's time has arrived. The Flight Radial is the toughest, more durable - and most innovative - aircraft tire that Goodyear makes. Today's high-performance commercial aircraft deserve the best," Roulett said. A radial tire study by Southwest Airlines, the low-cost leader in the U.S. airline industry, showed Goodyear Flight Radials advantage. Southwest said Goodyear's tires on the nose landing gear of 133 Boeing 737-700 aircraft registered 28 percent more landings per tread than bias-ply tires. For improved cost-effectiveness at Jetstar Airways, Flight Radials for the A320 fleet will be retreaded at Goodyear's facility in Melbourne.
Southwest Airlines' 737-700 fleet of 133 utilizes the new technology of the Goodyear Flight Radials. Once placed into service on the nose landing gear, the performance results were outstanding. A substantial increase of 28 percent in the number of landings per tread resulted over previous bias tire performance. The increase in landing performance has been beneficial for several reasons.
Pitted against a field of tires in similar performance scenarios, the Michelin Air, Goodyear Flight Custom II and Goodyear Flight Custom III were tested over the period of a year. Goodyear's Flight Custom III led the test group with an impressive 667 landings per tire. Its predecessor, the Flight Custom II averaged 544 landings per tire, compared to the Michelin Air at 539 landings per tire.
This incredible performance has earned the Goodyear Aviation team recognition from the general aviation market, with praise from aircraft enthusiasts at the Oshkosh Air Show and Orlando's Sun N' Fun.
The Atlanta facility, previously 3 separate facilities, has consolidated into one center for all retread manufacturing and distribution for the eastern United States. The investment in the relocation also included top of the line equipment and process improvement, to more efficiently meet customer demands with the best technology available. An Open House and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on March 12, 2004 to honor Goodyear's welcome to Henry County. Richard Bailey, Plant Manager, held the honor of cutting the ribbon. Attending this festive occasion were County Commissioners Leland Maddox (Chairman), Lee Holman (Vice-Chair) and Gerry Adams (District 4). Rich Horne, District Representative for US Congressman Johnny Isakson, Mel Wages representing State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurman, various representatives of the Henry County Development Authority, the Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Henry County Fire Department, Delta Airlines, World Airways, Honeywell, Aviall, Messier-Tracer, ASA, and other vendors and suppliers also showed their support. In attendance for Goodyear Aviation included General Manager, Alex Dumm, and Manager of North American Region, Bill Rathbun, from Akron, Ohio.
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Goodyear
Aviation's Flight Radial tires have been selected to outfit Qantas Airways'
new low-cost carrier, Jetstar Airways. The world leader in aviation tires
recently showcased its radial tires for commercial and military applications
in Singapore at Asian Aerospace, formerly known as the Singapore Airshow.
Goodyear's five-year agreement with Jetstar Airways also was announced.
According
to Jim Sokol, Southwest Airlines Vice President, Maintenance and Engineering,
"The corresponding increase in tire performance and greater time between
nose tire replacements has decreased Southwest Airline's related costs."
The Boeing 737 is the most commonly operated commercial aircraft in the
world and Southwest Airlines has the largest fleet of any individual operator.
The
Goodyear Flight Custom III, tested against similar tires in an evaluation
conducted at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), established
the brand as the top-value general aviation tire on the market. 
Testing
was conducted on approximately 80 Cessna 172 aircraft at ERAU. The facility
is the world's largest civilian flight training organization, operating
almost 100 light single and light twin engine aircraft. The location's
climate provided 350 days of excellent flying weather, while heat accelerated
the process of tire-wear and reduced overall evaluation time. Goodyear
has periodically conducted tire evaluations at ERAU for twenty years,
due to its consistent operation with fleet, field and procedure. 
After approximately 35 years of operations in Forest Park, Georgia, the Goodyear Atlanta, Aviation Products operation relocated approximately 15 miles south to Stockbridge, Georgia.