A CRJ700 sustained a lightning strike on approach and the crew noted radome and wing tip burn marks during post flight. On the overnight a ferry permit was issued which contract maintenance cleared then signed the aircraft off for 121 operations. Upon arrival at the first base the next morning the aircraft was grounded for maintenance.

Narrative

[We] took a pretty hard lightning strike; immediately lost TCAS display. We were on the descent; IMC conditions; moderate rain (no convective activity reported) when we got struck by lightning. [We] landed without further issues. Contacted Dispatch on ground and then spoke with maintenance. [We] wrote up lightning strike on nose of aircraft. First Officer did walk around and notified me of burn marks on nose gear door. I did another walk around and saw burn marks on trailing edge of the horizontal stab. Called Maintenance Control back and informed them of the damaged areas we could see. In the morning we had same aircraft; noted that the lightning strike had been signed off per maintenance and the TCAS was signed off as well. The third entry showed aircraft authorized for FERRY flight only. I called maintenance and was told that it was OK; the aircraft was signed off for 121 revenue operations and that we were good to depart with passengers on board. We departed and the flight was uneventful. Upon arrival maintenance met us at aircraft and subsequently grounded our aircraft for the lightning strike that was signed off ok for 121 flight by Maintenance Control and the RON station maintenance. Do not cut corners to get the aircraft to a maintenance base. If a plane is unworthy it should stay in whatever station it is broken in. I personally do not trust that station's maintenance and our Maintenance Control to do their jobs. They put my passengers; my crew; plane and my life in jeopardy by saying aircraft was ok for flight with a sign off then grounding at a large maintenance station. I will insist that the Contract Maintenance come back out to sign off the ferry permit and ensure that the work was done completely before departing next time.