Grounding inspections come down to hardware, resistance, and records. Ground cables get checked weekly for broken strands, alligator clips are prohibited outright, and any static ground reading more than 10,000 ohms must be removed or replaced and retested. QA verifies the cables and clamps are the specified type, the resistance is documented, and grounding is applied wherever static can build.
Readers asked this on CheckMyRegs and CheckMyAFI 17 times — this page answers it from the official catalogs and the publications’ own text.
| Branch | Controlling publication | Dated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | DAFMAN 91-203 Current Grounding, bonding and static control requirements | 2026-02-24 | Official link |
| Air Force | DAFI 21-101 Current Maintenance-side responsibility for aircraft and sunshade grounding systems | 2023-12-20 | Official link |
| Army | AR 385-10 Current Army Safety Program | 2023-07-24 | Official link |
| Navy | OPNAVINST 5100.23H Current Navy safety and occupational health equivalent | 2020-06-05 | Official link |
| Marine Corps | MCO 5100.29C VOLUMES 1-9 w/CH-2 Current Includes lightning protection and bonding inspection requirements | 2022-02-08 | Official link |
| Coast Guard | COMDTINST M5100.47D Current Coast Guard safety and environmental health manual | 2021-07-27 | Official link |
Alligator clips are prohibited for grounding or bonding aircraft and support equipment — only the specified ground wire is used, and cables get inspected weekly for broken strands with continuity checked after any repair.
“30.14.7.2.5. Alligator clips will not be used to ground or bond aircraft and support equipment. Only specified ground wire will be used in the shop or on refueling equipment. (T-1) Ground cables will be inspected weekly for broken strands. (T-1) Repaired or newly constructed grounding cable assemblies will be checked for continuity. (T-1) User will check bonding devices on all aircraft refueling units and associated equipment to ensure proper bonding prior to use. (T- 1)”
Any static ground measuring more than 10,000 ohms resistance has to be removed or replaced, and damaged static grounds must be repaired and retested — this is the number to look for in the records.
“18.2.4.5. Grounding and/or bonding requirements in TO 00-25-172, TO 42B-1-1, and TO 37-1-1, General Operation and Inspection of Installed Fuel Storage and Dispensing Systems, will be followed. (T-1) Remove or replace all static grounds with resistances of more than 10,000 ohms, and repair and retest damaged static grounds.”
Aircraft surfaces must be grounded whenever anyone is sanding, rubbing, painting, or wiping them, because those operations generate static on the skin.
“27.12.6. Grounding. Aircraft surfaces will be grounded to preclude the build -up of static electricity whenever operations involving sanding, rubbing, painting, or wiping surfaces are performed. (T-0)”
The owning organization is responsible for the sunshade grounding system from the single-point service ground onward, and must test it under the grounding and electrical systems manual.
“15.6.2. Owning organizations are responsible for the aircraft sunshade grounding system beginning at the single point service ground. Owning organizations will test the aircraft sunshade grounding system IAW AFMAN 32-1065, Grounding & Electrical Systems, Chapter 10, Testing and Inspecting Static and Lightning Protection Systems and Grounding . (T-2) Note: These responsibilities can be contracted as outlined in Paragraph 15.8.8.”
Ladders, mobile work platforms and related equipment used where static is hazardous — fuel cell repair, refueling vehicle maintenance — must be grounded or bonded and fitted with static discharge plates.
“16.5.8.8. Mobile work platforms used where static electricity is hazardous to the work operation, such as fuel cell repair or refueling vehicle maintenance, will be grounded and equipped with static discharge plates for personnel to dissipate accumulated static electricity. (T-0)”
Containers and portable tanks holding Class I liquids have to be electrically grounded and bonded while liquid is moving, with every ignition source positively eliminated.
“22.7.1.3. Containers and portable tanks used for Class I liquids will be electrically grounded and bonded during liquid transfer. (T-0) Positive measures will be taken to eliminate any source of ignition: open flames, electrical, smoking, cutting, and welding, hot surfaces, static, mechanical sparks, radiant heat, or spontaneous ignition sources. (T-0)”
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Updated 2026-08-01. CheckMyRegs is an unofficial index — always cite the official publication.