On Monday 2 August, with the first fully automated launch of the meteorological probe balloon, which took place from the airport grounds of the 2nd wing at 11.00 UTC (13.00 local time), the highly innovative and technologically advanced system called Autosonde.
After about 60 years of uninterrupted activity held at the Campoformido (UD) airport, cradle and forge of aerial acrobatics in Italy, and after another 5 years of operational service at a dedicated area of the Rivolto (UD) base, appropriately set up for the purpose of launching sounding balloons, the era of the manned meteorological observation station at altitude of the 2nd wing has ended, which has seen, over the course of over 65 years of activity, the use of dozens of operators and a constant progression of the sophisticated technologies applied up to the peak of total automation.
The baton has thus passed to the new system Autosonde which is in fact part of the new radiosonding network of the Armed Force and which includes, in addition to the Rivolto station (UD), also the launch stations located at the airport areas of Galatina (LE), Cameri (NO), Pratica di Mare ( RM), Decimomannu (CA) and Trapani Birgi (TP).
Present at the first official launch carried out by the new automatic station, in addition to the staff of the local Weather section, also the commander of the 2nd wing, col. Marco Bertoli. "I strongly wanted to participate in this event because it marks, for the meteorological service of the 2nd wing, the end of an era characterized by constant commitment and more than brilliant results in the service of the forecasting activity of the Armed Force. - said col. Bertoli - adding, with deep satisfaction "This new beginning represents an extremely important step for the Italian Air Force which, by equipping itself with the new network of Autosonde Systems, achieves a series of advantages in terms of performance and flexibility in the field of meteorological observations at high altitude, allowing, at the same time, a more rational and efficient use of its human resources. A modernization that allows to maximize the operational return and thus improve air navigation assistance, through an undisputed increase in the reliability of weather forecasts ".
