A321
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors
During climb out (approx. 24;000 FT) we received the HYD B ELEC PUMP OVHT message on the ECAM. Following the ECAM procedure I shut off the blue pump. While applying the FOM procedure and troubleshooting; the overheat indication extinguished. Following ECAM procedure I reset the pump to the on position. The HYD SD page displayed amber and zero pressure on the blue system. After using all available resources; (ECAM; FOM; Maintenance Control; Dispatch; the First Officer and the Chief Pilot's Office) the Captain exercised Captain's authority to declare an emergency and divert. The Captain's decision to declare an emergency and divert was based on the following considerations:1. The aircraft's flight controls were now degraded; (only one hydraulic jack per flight control; and sluggish handling) and the blue hydraulic system was unrecoverable which in our opinion interfered with the safe operation of the aircraft. 2. I agreed with the Captain that diverting (due to lack of system redundancy) was the most prudent and safest option.3. Lastly; per FOM; it is my interpretation that the NTSB would need to be notified. The approach and landing were conducted without incident. We exited the runway and requested that emergency services inspect the aircraft for hydraulic fluid leakage and ensure the aircraft was safe to pull into the gate. Emergency services did not see any fluid and deemed the aircraft safe and we taxied to the gate. It was determined after maintenance repaired the aircraft that the blue electric pump had seized.
A321 First Officer experiences the failure of the Blue hydraulic pump during climb passing FL240. After consultation with the company the crew elects to divert to a suitable airport.