Has anyone had experience with static electrical build up on the airframe that presented an issue with the hook up individual, or use grounding prior to hook up?
Just been reading on the subject and see turbine aircraft build up there own static charge, CAP 426,
The results when the exhaust gases contain a preponderance of ions of a particular polarity, leaving the aircraft charged with the opposite polarity. The magnitude of the effect varies widely between different types of helicopter; it is negligible in some but in others can cause voltages of 30 – 50kV to be reached within 1½ - 2 minutes. The process usually imparts a positive charge to the helicopter and is largely independent of weather conditions so that it leads to a persistent static problem which exists even under conditions where all other static charging mechanisms are absent.
Never heard of that before, learn some thing new every day. Never engaged in earthing the aircraft prior to hook up myself, nor ever had the hook up chap say he got a jolt.