I'm not sure about the local weather features in Switzerland, but here on the east coast any cell that puts down hail will also be putting down pretty good precip, which is unmistakable on a properly operating and operated radar. I haven't read any details on the incident so benefit of the doubt must be given to the crew. Perhaps they were avoiding the cell but encountered the hail outside the cell in visual conditions. My only encounter with hail was in bright blue sky while visually circumnavigating a cell, even while clear of the anvil.
Another interesting sidenote- it is legal to dispatch an aircraft with inoperative radar along a route where thunderstorms are forecast, so long as there is an agreement between the pilot and dispatcher that they are not REASONABLY expected. About as grey as it gets, which leads to some very interesting debates about what the word reasonable means!
On the other hand I once had a freight dog buddy of mine tell me that level 4 and 5 cells make great shortcuts! (yes this guy is still alive)
__________________
This is the earth. And this is Pinky. You can tell the difference quite easily. One is a lump of inert matter hurtling blindly through the void. The other... is the earth.
|