Lightning strike in the mother of all CAVOKs?

[weatherdude]

Have we disussed this? Incident: Lufthansa B744 near Frankfurt on Sep 30th 2011, lightning strike Hard to believe it would have happened yesterday meteorological conditions in Central and Western Europe.

[Espada III]

Interesting comment by the passenger that the announcements were clear. We had to turn around a few years ago from FRA in a A340-600 due to a sticking under carriage and the information provided was excellent as was the way the whole situation was dealt with.

[GlueBall]

But a pax who was aboard the flight and had responded on the "avherald" blog, had stated that it was a stuck aileron, that there was no lightning, and no lightning strike.

[Capn Bloggs]

At the risk of spearing off on a tangent, I've never flown a "dumper"; what do Pruners think of this comment on AvHerald on this incident:

you never ever dump fuel in a holding pattern. Guess what happens when you fly through your own fuel cloud in the holding.

[sleeve of wizard]

Here is what Boeing says:

Fuel Jettison
Fuel jettison should be considered when situations dictate landing at high gross weights and adequate time is available to perform the jettison. When fuel jettison is to be accomplished, consider the following:
• ensure adequate weather minimums exist at airport of intended landing • fuel jettison above 4,000feet AGL ensures complete fuel evaporation • downwind drift of fuel may exceed one NM per1,000feet of drop • avoid jettisoning fuel in a holding pattern with other airplanes below.

[Capn Bloggs]

Thanks Sleeve.