Hovund aërodrome

History

Established in 5.911 and located approximately five kilometres outside the current perimeter of Hovund, the Hovund aërodrome operated as a civil airfield receiving cargo airships until The Mage War reached North Erwa in 5.917. The aërodrome - then assigned the name WN-372 - was the home base for the Magisterium’s 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, and the 10th and 12th Reserve Squadrons. When the war moved deeper into the South Erwan theatre, the site became a flight school for the 19th and 20th Aëro Training Squadrons, before being abandoned in 5.919.

Having lain empty for four years, the aërodrome is currently in the process of being rebuilt as a multi-purpose transport hub that serves airships and aëroplanes - capitalising on an emerging interest in aviation and air travel.

Current status

Part of the postwar expansion of Hovund, the aërodrome is the most expensive civil regeneration project in Orstadland’s history. Transtep International has provided half of the funding in return for a contract to provide flights to Lohta aërodrome in Kijarle, and the Flavik aëroport in Kjeforland. The timber-framed billets and flight offices have been demolished and are being replaced with a brick-built luxury passenger lounge and pilot's office. The workshops are being retained, restored, and expanded with the addition of two maintenance hangars.

Future development

Planned facilities include an airship hangar, a mooring mast suited for three airships, employee accomodation, and an air traffic control tower with semaphore and radio towers. Passenger facilities will include a 200 room hotel, designed in the Monumentalist style by architect Kantu Mulume Kande, and a railway station with a First Class waiting room and links to Hovund.

The three existing turf airstrips are ready to use - as proven in 5.922, when an aërobat was chased off course by a swarm of tsykus and had to make an emergency landing. Six months later, a travelling airshow illegally occupied the site for three weeks, delaying construction but bringing the project to wider attention.