Hydraulic Systems

 Hydraulic Systems

    The hydraulic system in an aircraft provides control to the aircraft's other systems.  Those systems range from brakes to flight control operations.  It is one of the most important systems on an aircraft, and the loss of hydraulic power could have severe consequences.  

    As an aircraft maintainer myself, I have seen what can happen if an aircraft loses hydraulic power.  Thankfully there has been no loss of aircraft or personnel due to the safety features that are equipped to the aircraft I have worked (A-10, F-35).  A total loss of hydraulic power is extremely rare in most airliners since there is usually more than one.  However, if it were to happen, there is very little a pilot can do about it.  The A-10 for example has two hydraulic systems and if one were to go out, the other can be used to help control the aircraft.  If both were to go out, then it is able to be flown in manual reversion mode, which is fly by cable.  Essentially the aircraft has an actual cable that connects to the flight controls and once you select manual reversion mode, it disengages the hydraulics and allows the pilot to control the aircraft, though not easily.  


References

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge Chapter 7. (2016, August 24). Faa.Gov. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/

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