At a northern port, Lyra is befriended by a Texan aeronaut named Lee Scoresby. Thad's father joined in the balloon making business and had become an accomplished aeronaut himself. In 1904, Curtiss became a supplier of engines for the California "aeronaut" Tom Baldwin. But the balloon loses its air and the aeronaut has to land on levitating planets. The Aeronaut, National and Astronaut categories have not been listed in a central location. He was also an early aeronaut. With the exception of the Aeronaut trophy, all are inactive. Lucander had previously run the Finnish operations of the Estonian airline Aeronaut. At the same time, there were other applicants seeking the position of Chief Aeronaut. Balloons are almost always given unique names by their aeronaut owners. While not a professional aeronaut, he may have planned to become one. Dollfus was born in Paris to aeronaut Charles Dollfus. Similar ratings were created for the lighter-than-air branch of aviation, termed "Military Aeronaut". Lyra recruits Iorek Byrnison, an armoured bear, and his human aeronaut friend, Lee Scoresby. Free flight would almost always require the aeronaut to return and make a report.