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One dirty task: Hydraulics Airmen learn through on-the-job training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The KC-135 Stratotanker is the Air Force's oldest refueling aircraft, having been introduced to the Air Force inventory in 1957. Given its age, it sometimes needs some tender, loving care when it comes to maintenance.

During a recent inspection on a KC-135, crew chiefs from the 340th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit found that the side strut actuator on the main landing gear was leaking hydraulic fluid, and that was when the hydraulic section got the call.

"When we look at something that is leaking, we decide what actions we need to make to solve the problem," said Tech. Sgt. Adam Jensen, 340th EAMU aircraft hydraulics specialist and native of Sloan, Iowa. "The actuator was leaking enough that it needed to be replaced."

Since parts like an actuator rarely need to be replaced on the KC-135, Jensen used this time to train some of the more junior hydraulics Airmen.

"There's not always much time for on-the-job training, so this was a good opportunity to teach them," he said.

Airman 1st Class Johnathan Holmes, who has been an aircraft hydraulics specialist for two years, had never seen an actuator replaced, but greeted the opportunity with enthusiasm.

Even though the part was new to him, hydraulics systems are usually pretty similar, said Holmes.

The first step--before trying to change out any piece of a hydraulic system--was to de-pressurize the system.

"If the hydraulic system is still pressurized, there's going to be a mess," said Jensen.

Even with the system de-pressurized, the Airmen still have to work with quite a bit of hydraulic fluid in the system.

"We can't change out any part without dealing with hydraulic fluid," said Senior Airman Benjamin Guthrie, a native of Pleasant Grove, Texas.

As Holmes disconnected the hydraulic lines from the actuator, fluid began to flow from the lines, soaking his gloves and running down his arms. Since the Airmen are experienced in this kind of work, they knew a bucket would come in handy for the excess fluid that inevitably comes rushing out.

The KC-135, which has been in the Air Force inventory for more than 50 years, is invaluable to air missions in support of Afghanistan and the defense of the region. It is expected to remain in the Air Force inventory until 2040.

The faith the current leadership puts in the aircraft's longevity isn't hard to believe, said Jensen.

"The KC-135 is a very reliable aircraft. It is relatively easy to work on and every system has a backup," he said.

The technical order, or T.O., details every step the hydraulics specialists must take when making any repairs. The Airmen follow every step so there are no problems with the maintenance or operation of the aircraft in the future.

"With the T.O., it wasn't as difficult to replace as I expected," said Holmes, who is a native of Hampden, Maine.

Since the actuator is rarely replaced, the technical order was in pristine condition when they started. By the end of the repair, it had been warmly welcomed into the world of grease and hydraulic fluid.

After the part was replaced and the system re-pressurized, the team did a function check and considered this task accomplished.

"The one thing I did expect was that I'd be dirty by the end of it," Holmes said with a smile. "In this job, it's not if you get dirty, but when you get dirty."