How quickly does static electricity regenerate to the aircraft cargo hook once the static discharge wand has been removed?

• A. 3 seconds
• B. 5 seconds
• C. 7 seconds
• D. 10 seconds

Answer: (B)

Static charges on aircraft surfaces build back up almost as soon as the discharge path is removed. The static discharge wand provides a controlled path to ground, but once you take it away, the surface begins recharging from the surrounding environment. In typical SLICC practice, that re-accumulation reaches a disruptive level in about five seconds. So there’s only a short window after removing the wand during which a discharge hazard can reappear as you handle or connect the load. The five-second timeframe is the standard reference for this scenario, not three seconds or seven or ten seconds, which fall outside the expected regeneration window.