Five-star hotel for pilots set to open at Mudgee Airport
Jennifer RobertsonJune 26, 2013
An aeronautically designed five-star hotel for pilots is set to open at Mudgee Airport next month.
The first of its kind in Australia, the luxury accommodation is located just 120 metres from the runway and provides an active taxiway connection direct to its door.
Designed as a multi purpose resort for pilots, it caters for groups of up to 14 guests and has facilities for functions as well as workshops, flight training and aircraft storage.
It has five hotel suites, conference rooms, a pilot’s lounge, pilot’s residence, swimming pool and a commercial kitchen.
Owner, Observe Air is an approved ‘call when needed’ operation and will use the hangar as a seasonal base for the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in times of bushfire danger.
Maurice Patten of Patten Designs was commissioned by the company to design the hotel and it was built by local Mudgee builder Peter Barlow.
Mr Patten says the design of the building was inspired by World War Two Hangars and the local landscape in Mudgee.
“Henry Lawson’s old cabin is actually further along there, and that has an old chimney on it, so that inspired me to put a chimney on the social area of the building,” he says.
Patten says his client, chief pilot at Observe Air Brad Welch, is passionate about flying and is now living at the complex himself.
The process began in 2009, with six months of planning before building commenced in 2010. The project was completed last year and the hotel will be officially opened next month.
Patten says Mid Western Regional Council played an important role in getting the development underway.
“The council was really great, they were really involved in the process. It was a long but very considered process. Normally you would think of councils as being a bit of a pain but they actually assisted,” he says.
The surrounding area has been subdivided and construction is underway on an aircraft hangar on a lot adjoining Hanger House Hotel.
