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Georg Vogl (left) explained the hail defense approach at the invitation of BBV district chairman Peter Fichtner at a lecture in Bichl.
He is one of eight pilots of the two hail planes stationed in Vogtareuth.
© Hias Krinner
Hagelflieger Georg Vogl from Rosenheim reported on his work in the “Bavarian Lion” in Bichl.
This led to a discussion as to whether its use in the Tölzer Land also makes sense or not.
Bichl – A lot has been reported about the hail catastrophe that left a path of destruction in the Loisachtal and the Isarwinkel on August 26th last year.
Now a lecture about the hail planes from Rosenheim took place in Bichl at the Gasthof zum Bayerischen Löwen on the initiative of BBV district chairman Peter Fichtner.
The main reason for this was the fact that the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district, in contrast to the neighboring districts of Rosenheim, Miesbach and Traunstein, the city of Rosenheim and, on the Austrian side, the Kufstein District Chamber of Agriculture, does not participate in the financing of hail defense - with the argument that The effectiveness of hail fliers has not been scientifically proven.
Operations since 1980
Speaker Georg Vogl also confirmed in Bichl that the success rate cannot actually be stated in concrete figures.
Vogl works at the Rosenheim district office, has been responsible for the hail planes since 1980 and is a pilot himself.
The probability of success is 40 to 70 percent, he said.
“And given the immense damage caused and more frequent severe weather events, that’s a good thing.”
Hail defense is not a modern invention; it already existed among the ancient Greeks and later in the Middle Ages, said Andrea Lindner (36), also a pilot, who will take over Vogl's position after his impending retirement from professional life.
At that time, of course, other means were still used, such as sound cannons and then hail cannons filled with black powder.
This is how silver iodide works
Today, generators filled with silver iodide are attached to the tips of the wings of the two “Partenavia P68 C-TC” aircraft and the thunderstorm cells are “vaccinated” with them.
According to Vogl, the key to success is to hit the storm cell early and in the right place during the phase in which the hailstones form and grow.
“If large ice grains have already formed in the cloud's updraft system, they can no longer be destroyed.
Then it will be too late."
Very important: collaboration with meteorologists
It is generally essential for the pilots to work with a meteorologist who provides current data on the weather process via radio from the ground during the flight.
The process is being improved: Since 2007, the Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the Hail Research Association under professional management, has been working to increase vaccination accuracy and thus the effectiveness of hail defense through improved preparation of weather data, said Vogl.
The silver iodide used cannot be detected in the soil due to its low concentration.
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The fact that the district is refusing to contribute to this matter, among other things on the grounds that the taxpayer cannot be expected to bear this financial burden, is a great annoyance for the district chairman.
“If you look at what sums are being spent on what things today and what damage is caused by hail events, the annual operating costs for an aircraft of a good 100,000 euros would be entirely justifiable,” said Fichtner.
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Insurance agent would welcome project
He received full approval from Ernst Huber from the EU-wide crop insurance company “Vergleiche Hagel”.
Huber appealed that, as Vogl had explained, there was more moisture in the atmosphere as a result of global warming and the thunderstorm cells were becoming more severe.
A third and fourth plane would be needed, spread over different locations, in order to be able to approach an approaching thunderstorm cell more quickly and from different directions.
“That would strengthen the success rate,” said Vogl.
Huber also referred to the car manufacturer Mercedes, whose large limousine branch near Stuttgart has three hail pilots on constant duty.
As an act of self-help and solidarity, Fichtner recommended affordable membership in the Hail Research Association based in Rosenheim.
Georg Vogl and his team are eagerly awaiting an imminent meeting with the Bavarian Insurance Chamber.
Maybe the damage will bring them new sympathy.
(Rosi Bauer)