JIG INSPECTION PREPARATION · Aero Support Group FZCO · Updated 23 October 2026
What is JIG?
JIG, the Joint Inspection Group, is a non-profit membership organisation for companies that handle jet fuel. Its guarantor members are BP, Chevron, ENI, ExxonMobil, KPC, Shell and TotalEnergies, and IATA endorses its standards. Sites that take part in the inspection programme are recognised as “Inspected to JIG Standards”.
Current JIG standards
- JIG 1, Aviation Fuel Quality Control and Operating Standards for Into-Plane Fuelling Services: Issue 13, September 2021.
- JIG 2, airport depots and hydrants: Issue 13, September 2021.
- JIG 4, smaller airports, typically under 10 million litres a year: Issue 4, September 2021.
- EI/JIG 1530, quality assurance for the manufacture, storage and distribution of aviation fuels to airports: 2nd edition, 2019. A 3rd edition was circulated in draft in 2026.
- JIG Bulletins amend requirements between issues. Recent examples cover filtration (Bulletin 160), hose safety (161), water barrier filters (162) and the AFQRJOS checklist (163).
Fuel specifications operators must track
- DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 19 (published October 2026), which makes IP 565 automatic particle counting the referee cleanliness method.
- ASTM D1655, currently D1655-26b.
- AFQRJOS, Aviation Fuel Quality Requirements for Jointly Operated Systems: Issue 36 (February 2025) and the Jet A-only Issue 36B (May 2026).
- ASTM D7566 and EI 1533 for synthetic blending components and semi-synthetic jet fuel. Blending is not done at the airport; once received, the blend is handled as Jet A or Jet A-1.
How JIG inspections work
- Each participating location is inspected every year under JIG’s annual plan by a qualified JIG inspector.
- The inspector uses the JIG checklist for the location’s registered standard. Checklists were updated in January 2026.
- Findings and corrective actions are recorded and tracked in JITS, JIG’s online inspection tracking system.
Where fuel operators lose points
- Daily, weekly and monthly checks done but not recorded consistently, especially filter differential pressure trends and sump drains.
- Hose pressure tests and deadman tests overdue on parked equipment.
- Procedures not updated for recent bulletins.
- Product receipt documentation that does not show the certificate of quality chain.
- Training and competence records that do not cover every task an operator performs.
How ASG prepares you
- Pre-inspection assessment against the applicable JIG checklist and recent bulletins.
- Operations manual and procedure updates, including the transition plan to Issue 14.
- Records review for depot, hydrant and into-plane operations.
- Training and competence matrix for operators and supervisors.
- HSSE management system alignment with the JIG HSSEMS Standard.
- Corrective action plans and JITS closure evidence after inspection.
Conclusion
JIG inspections test the daily discipline of a fuel operation: checks done, recorded and acted on. With Issue 14 due in 2027 and DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 19 just published, operators need to keep their procedures current. ASG helps them prepare and keep pace.
Frequently asked questions
Joint Inspection Group, a non-profit membership organisation that publishes aviation fuel handling standards and runs an annual inspection programme.
JIG 1 covers into-plane fuelling, JIG 2 airport depots and hydrants, and JIG 4 smaller airports supplied by road or rail, typically under 10 million litres a year. EI/JIG 1530 covers quality assurance upstream of the airport.
JIG 1 and JIG 2 Issue 13 and JIG 4 Issue 4, all from September 2021, as amended by bulletins. Issue 14 is planned for January 2027.
No. JIG’s plan for Issue 14 updates the standards together but keeps them as separate documents.
DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 19 and ASTM D1655-26b, with AFQRJOS Issue 36 as the joint checklist.
Key takeaways
- JIG 1, 2 and 4 Issue 13/4 (2021) remain current, amended by bulletins
- Issue 14 planned for January 2027, compliance by January 2028
- DEF STAN 91-091 Issue 19 published October 2026
- Inspections are annual, tracked in JITS
- Record keeping is where most points are lost
Preparing for a JIG inspection?
Tell us your site type and registered standard. ASG will assess readiness against the current checklist and bulletins.