Three Tips for Dealing with Hailstorms | Weather | NBAA - National ... https://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/weather/20170427-three-tips-for-de...

(https://www.nbaa.org/)

Weather
Three Tips for Dealing with Hailstorms
April 27, 2017

Spring is finally here, bringing with it balmy temperatures and hail the size of baseballs. From roughly May to September,
hailstorms can occur regularly in certain areas of the United States, particularly in the Great Plains, where Hail Alley home to
the most hail days each year stretches through Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.

The best hailstorm strategy for business aircraft operators is the simplest: avoid it. Here are a few other considerations for hail
season.

Tip 1: Take Advantage of the Latest Weather Technology

With the help of improved forecast technology, operators can more accurately plan around inclement weather. John Kosak,
NBAA project manager, weather, recommends consulting the National Weather Services (NWS) new Traffic Flow
Management Convective Forecast (https://www.av iationwe athe r.gov /tcf) (TCF), which replaced the CDM Convective Forecast
Product earlier this year.

The nice thing about the TCF is that its a high-confidence product, updated every two hours so youve got something you can
look at throughout the day. said Kosak. In the past, it was as if somebody was taking not a paint brush but a paint roller to
the page. This new tool is more accurate and dependable.

Another useful tool is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NWS Storm Prediction Center
. Within the websites Convective Outlook section, users can view forecasts by category tornado,
(http://www.spc.noaa.gov /)
wind, hail or general severe weather which are valid for up to 24 hours.

Tip 2: Pilot/ATC Collaboration Helps Everybody

On Aug. 7, 2015, a Delta Airbus crew was forced to make an emergency landing after flying into a hailstorm over Nebraska. The
mishap occurred in part because the pilots did not obtain adequate weather information from the Denver air traffic controller.
This incident highlights the importance of effective collaboration between pilots and ATC.

Pilots should provide timely reports on conditions aloft, and ATC should take advantage of superior on-the-ground weather
technology to keep pilots informed on convective developments.

You need to communicate what youre seeing and ask the question, What am I missing? Kosak said, noting that pilots need
to be vigilant about seeking information, since some in-cockpit/tablet radar displays may show weather that is 10-20 minutes
old.

Tip 3: My Aircraft Was Damaged Now What?

Despite an operators best efforts, hail damage whether on the ground or in the air is sometimes unavoidable. If the skin is
damaged in a way that affects flight characteristics or a control surface, the damage may rise to an airworthiness item, resulting
in major repairs. However, even cosmetic damage may have an impact on the value of the aircraft when it is resold.

1 von 2 29.04.17, 00:39

Three Tips for Dealing with Hailstorms | Weather | NBAA - National ... https://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace/weather/20170427-three-tips-for-de...

Most aircraft insurance policies cover hail, but the bigger issue that will not be covered is diminution of value of an aircraft that
experiences repairs necessary due to hail damage, said Forrest Owens, of law firm Saavedra Goodwin, and a member of
NBAAs Regulatory Issues Advisory Group.

While diminution of value may be unpreventable, large financial loss doesnt have to be. Owens recommends that all operators
especially those who frequent areas prone to hailstorms make sure their insurance covers hail damage to the hull, both in
the air and on the ground. Owens also suggests avoiding over-insuring (an agreed-upon hull value in excess of the actual hull
value), as this can make determination of a total loss more difficult by an insurer.

View NBAAs weather resources (https://www.nbaa.org/ops/airspace /we athe r/) .

Related Links

NBAA Weather Resources

NBAA Weather Subcommittee (https://www.nbaa.org/about/leadership/committees/access/weather/)

National Business Aviation Association

1200 G Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005 Tel: (202) 783-9000 Fax: (202) 331-8364 info@nbaa.org (mailto:info@nbaa.org)

2 von 2 29.04.17, 00:39