News

Reserve hydraulic technicians give working under pressure a whole new meaning

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nicole Celestine
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Hydraulics is the term applied to engineering compressed liquids, including gases.

Ask any aircraft hydraulic technician with the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, what it's like working with compressed, greasy liquids at pressures of up to 4,000 pounds per square inch (or PSI) , and he or she will likely say, just have a sense of humor and go with the flow, literally.

For Tech. Sgt. Louie Baird and Senior Airmen Jalearnchi Sirisin and Eric Madlangbayan, 446th AMXS aircraft hydraulic technicians, a typical day at the office includes troubleshooting, removing, repairing, overhauling, inspecting and installing aircraft hydraulic systems and their components. This range of functions highlights how essential these technicians are to ensuring the hydraulic system of a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft remains in tip-top shape and ready to roll ... or fly.

"The work we do is messy," said Airman Sirisin, a resident of Lacey, Wash and five-year veteran of the Air Force Reserve. "We replace parts. We search for broken, leaky components, and we have to be careful in whatever we're doing."

Additionally, aircraft hydraulic technicians diagnose malfunctions, correct defects, advise on any problems while maintaining the systems, and determine the most appropriate maintenance procedures. Attention to detail and a patient demeanor are definite pluses.

"In this job, you've got to be physically fit and comfortable working in confined spaces or at high elevations," said Sergeant Baird. The Lakewood, Wash., native serves as a full-time Air Reserve Technician in the same capacity.

Aircraft hydraulic technicians are a close-knit team. Because hydraulics entails working with fluids under high pressure, safety is always paramount. The Wingman Concept is 100 percent operational with aircraft hydraulic technicians.

"What brings us together as a team is that we're trained to be comfortable doing our jobs, regardless of who's around," said Airman Madlangbayan, a first-year Engineering student at Olympic College, Bremerton, Wash. "Working in a potentially life-threatening job means we have to look out for one another. We have to know we're all working safely."

Sergeant Baird said the aircraft hydraulic technician career field is comparable to aircraft mechanics in the civilian job market. For Reservists interested in becoming an aircraft hydraulic technician, Sergeant Baird recommends taking airframe and powerplant certification and industrial hydraulic courses, currently available at community and technical colleges, like Clover Park Technical College or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.