Triggered Lightning

Although the triggering of lightning to ground stations using wire-trailing rockets has become somewhat routine, it has not yet been proven that free-flying aircraft trigger lightning. However, there is substantial evidence that aircraft are somehow involved in the initiation of the: strikes which they experience. This paper reviews the evidence and arguments for aircraft-triggered lightning. The triggering mechanisms which have been suggested are discussed in light of ground-based triggering experience and recent flight data related to weather conditions and discharge parameters associated with strikes to aircraft. Some conclusions are drawn about the probable characteristics of aircraft-triggered lightning and the implications of triggering to aircraft safety.