Students flying back on Northwest Airlines from spring break today were spared a traveler's worst headache.

An executive order signed by President George W. Bush Friday stayed a possible disruption of service by Northwest Airlines mechanics. The order delayed a strike that was supposed to take place yesterday at midnight if negotiators failed to make a new contract.

During a press conference in Sioux Falls, S.D. Friday, Bush said he issued the order to protect travelers and the U.S. economy.

"I am concerned about our economy. In order to make sure our transportation hubs continue to flourish and we continue to fly, I'm issuing an executive order to protect the flying public in a time when Northwest Airlines and the mechanics are having trouble resolving differences, and they need time to do so," Bush said.

Northwest Airlines is the nation's fourth largest airline and one of the three carriers out of the University Park Airport.

A 30-day cooling period was to end last night, but President Bush ordered the Presidential Emergency Board to institute another cooling-off period for 60 days. By law, the mechanics are prohibited from striking or taking any job actions during this period.

According to the order, a board appointed by the president would take 30 days to propose a settlement and the parties would get an additional 30 days to resolve the dispute. If that fails, Congress could impose a settlement.

More than 10,000 Northwest Airlines mechanics are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association and are asking for a significant increase in pay and benefits such as retirement and health insurance.

The mechanics had conceded to a more than 12 percent pay cut in 1993 to help the company, said Steve Lanier, AMFA national secretary. That contract had expired in 1996 and it has been more than four years since an official contract has taken its place.

"The mechanics agreed to the cutbacks in 1993 to help the company," Lanier said. "The company has since then grown, but the mechanics have yet to see a new contract."

Lanier said he is unsure of how successful the president's order will be.

"The extension puts no pressure on either parts to resolve the negotiations," he said. "While we are still negotiating with the airline, it removes all sense of urgency."

The AMFA assures the public that it is not a "strike-happy" organization and said its mechanics will maintain its dedication and professionalism during the negotiations.

Northwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Labor Relations Robert Brodin issued a statement regarding the status of the company's contract negotiations with the AMFA and said the airline will continue to fly its full schedule during the next 60 days.

"The PEB will study the negotiations and make settlement recommendations to Northwest Airlines and AMFA," Brodin said in the statement. "Northwest has already agreed to accept the contract terms the PEB recommends at the conclusion of its evaluation."

As of yesterday, the two parties had made some progress in the contract talks. According to the AMFA Web site, agreements had been made regarding overtime, holidays and vacations. However, the union and the airline are still $2.5 billion apart on wage, backpay and pension issues.