For hot refueling, most of what QA verifies is certification and documentation: QA certifying officials train, evaluate and certify the team members, QA or the responsible unit holds the site certification documents and the master list of hot pit sites, and non-resident units have to coordinate their certification and documentation through QA before using a certified pit. On the pad itself, the checks are a serviceable static ground, a pad supervisor with full view of the operation, and the driver confirming the aircraft matches the dispatch log.
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 | DAFI 21-101 Current Hot refuel and defuel program, site and personnel certification | 2023-12-20 | Official link |
| Air Force | DAFMAN 91-203 Current Static grounding and refueling safety requirements | 2026-02-24 | Official link |
| Navy | OPNAVINST 4790.2K Current Naval Aviation Maintenance Program equivalent | 2025-04-25 | Official link |
| Army | AR 750-1 Current Army materiel maintenance policy | 2026-04-29 | Official link |
| Marine Corps | MCO 4790.25 Current Ground equipment maintenance program | 2014-01-12 | Official link |
| Coast Guard | COMDTINST M5100.47D Current Coast Guard fuel-handling safety requirements | 2021-07-27 | Official link |
QA hot pit certifying officials and their squadron-level augmentees train, evaluate and certify the personnel doing the refueling, using the procedures in the instruction plus applicable aircraft technical orders and local procedures.
“11.25.11.5. QA hot pit certifying officials and QA hot pit certifier augmentees (squadron certifying officials) will train, evaluate, and certify unit personnel. (T-2) QA hot pit certifying officials will ensure augmentees conduct evaluations using procedures outlined in this instruction, applicable aircraft TOs and local procedures. (T-2)”
QA or the responsible unit maintains the site certification documentation and the master listing of hot pit refueling sites administered by the maintenance group.
“11.25.1.1.2. QA or responsible unit will maintain site certification documentation and a master listing of hot pit refueling sites administered by the MXG. (T-2)”
Non-resident organizations hot refueling at a certified pit must coordinate site and personnel certification, utilization, and documentation requirements through the supporting QA and airfield management.
“6.3.21. Ensure non -resident organizations hot refueling aircraft at an AF certified hot pit coordinate site/personnel certification, utilization and documentation requirements with the supporting QA and Airfield Management/Operations. (T-2)”
Aircraft refuelers must have a serviceable static ground system, and refueling equipment under maintenance stays connected to a serviceable ground except while the vehicle is moving.
“30.14.7.2.1. Aircraft refuelers will have a serviceable, static ground system. (T-1) Refueling equipment in a refueler maintenance facility or undergoing maintenance will be always connected to a serviceable ground, except when the vehicle is in motion. (T-1) Refueling maintenance support equipment will be grounded. (T-1)”
When two or more aircraft are hot refueled on the same pad, a pad supervisor holds overall supervision and must maintain full view and control of the simultaneous operations.
“11.25.9.1. Pad Supervisor. Responsible for overall supervision of hot refueling operations when two or more aircraft are simultaneously hot refueled on the same pad (multiple hot refueling). Maintains full view and control of multiple hot refueling operations.”
Before starting, the refueling driver verifies the aircraft type being serviced is the same type specified on the refueling dispatch log.
“18.2.8.2. Refueling drivers will verify, prior to commencing any refueling operation, that the type of aircraft to be serviced is the same type aircraft specified on the refueling dispatch log. (T-1)”
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Updated 2026-08-01. CheckMyRegs is an unofficial index — always cite the official publication.