St. Cloud State University

News Release

Mesaba Airlines high on St. Cloud State students

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Mesaba Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwest Airlines, is showing special interest in graduates of the St. Cloud State University aviation program.  Now, students who complete an agreed-upon set of St. Cloud State aviation courses with a “C” or better will be assured of a comprehensive job interview by the company.

The 12 required classes include core courses needed to earn a St. Cloud State aviation degree as well as courses in aircraft electronic systems, aviation safety, advanced aerodynamics and advanced aircraft systems.  Other requirements include commercial pilot certification, an FCC radio operators permit and a current passport.

The program is designed to build a bridge between St. Cloud State’s flight training program and the Mesaba flight training program.

Mesaba Airlines, the longest-standing regional airline in the United States, operates as a Northwest Airlines Airlink serving more than 75 cities in the United States and Canada from Northwest’s three major hubs: Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Memphis.  The Mesaba fleet of regional jet aircraft includes the 34-passenger Saab SF340, the 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ200 and the 76-passenger Bombardier CRJ900.

Mesaba has a history of turning to St. Cloud State for trained aviation graduates.  St. Cloud State alumni already working for the company refer to its headquarters in the Twin Cities as a “little St. Cloud,” according to Assistant Professor of Aviation Angela Olson, and there currently are four students working part time at the company’s St. Cloud location.

  Mesaba Airlines is headquartered in Eagan, Minn., approximately five miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.

SCSU, located 70 miles northwest of the Twin Cities, offers its 16,000 students 175 majors, minors and pre-professional programs in Business, Education, Fine Arts & Humanities, Science & Engineering, and Social Sciences, and 50 master’s degrees through its School of Graduate Studies.

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Contacts:

Steve Anderson, aviation department chair, 320-308-2978

Student and Mesaba employee Ryan Mahoney, ryan11@usa.com

Alumnus and Mesaba employee Bryan Sonnkalb, 920-279-3946

Alumnus and Mesaba employee Steven Osojnicki, 651-587-1626

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