Minnesota Office of Aeronautics (MnDOT)

The Minnesota Office of Aeronautics is the state aviation office inside the Minnesota Department of Transportation, known as MnDOT. It works on aeronautics and aviation across Minnesota. MnDOT is based at 395 John Ireland Boulevard in St. Paul, and its main number is 651-296-3000.

The office manages state and federal grant-in-aid programs for about 45 public airports. Its goal, as stated on the site, is a safe and viable air transportation system that is developed, maintained and promoted. Funding comes from the State Airports Fund. The fund is supported mainly by aviation fuel and sales taxes and by aircraft property taxes and registration fees.

The site reports that the office is awarding 8 million dollars for 57 improvement projects at 39 Minnesota airports. The work includes pavement and turf repair, crack repair, removal of obstructions on runways and taxiways, stormwater planning, fuel pump replacements, facility upgrades and security lighting.

The office also offers learning and planning tools. It runs AirTAP webinars, including one on how St. Cloud Sky Central Airport changed its name and brand. It has a nine part webinar series on advanced air mobility. It built an AWOS NavAIDS Weather Location App. The Minnesota Airport Directory and Travel Guide is now digital, with a ForeFlight content pack and an interactive web map. A safety video from the FAA covers hot spots and traffic procedures at Flying Cloud Airport.

For young people, the office holds a Minnesota High School Aviation Career Forum on March 30, 2027 at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center. It is for students aged 16 to 18 and covers careers such as pilots, mechanics and engineers. The office was also hiring a Senior Engineer to work with the regional airport teams.