The presented work is devoted to analysis of effective ionization processes at early discharge stages in air and air- methane mixtures at different temperatures and mixture compositions as the first necessary step before analysis of air - methane moving mixture ionization. Necessary parameters of excitation, ionization and attachment in these mixtures have been determined in wide range of E/N parameter (E-electric field strength, N-density of neutrals). So called, "thresholds" of ionization in these gas mixtures have been calculated. Experiments on ionization measurements in these mixtures are discussed.