Typically, first attachment is to the radome, forward
fuselage, nacelle, empennage, or wing tip [8]. During the
initial stages of a lightning strike on an airplane, a glow is
often seen on the nose or wing tips caused by ionization of the
air surrounding the leading edges or sharp points on the
airplane's structure. This ionization is caused by an increase in
the electromagnetic field density at those locations resulting in
a stepped leader protruding off the aircraft from an ionized
area. As the leader from the aircraft meets a leader from the
cloud, a strike to ground can continue and the airplane
becomes part of the lightning circuit.