A300
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 160; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 1200
Workload; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
About four minutes after takeoff and climbing through 5;000 FT; we received an ECAM Master Warning/Caution from the FWC which read 'Green System Low Pressure.' We verified this failure on the hydraulic panel; which showed zero pressure and zero contents in the Green System. The Captain then notified ARTCC of the problem and requested 7;000 FT. After leveling at 7;000 FT the Captain declared an emergency and notified ATC of our intentions to return to the departure airport. The First Officer remained the pilot flying while the Captain continued with pilot not flying duties and completed the ECAM action steps; performance computations; and all ECAM/AOM checklist items down to the Landing Gear Gravity Extension; (landing gear manual extension). Company Operations was notified of our impending return. At this point; the Captain became the pilot flying while the First Officer; as the pilot not flying; completed the Landing Gear Gravity Extension checklist. With all Emergency/Abnormal Checklists completed the First Officer set-up and briefed the ILS10. The crew discussed performance; missed approach procedures with the landing gear down; manual brake application; and coordinated with ATC our intention to stop on Runway 10. All normal checklists were completed. After coming to an uneventful stop; adjacent to Taxiway Hotel Nine; we communicated with Airfield Rescue and Fire Fighters (ARFF) on ATC Ground Control frequency. Brake temperatures were under 100 degrees C and no further concerns were discussed. The Operations towed us to the gate at which time we completed the Shutdown and Secure Checklists. All control surfaces were left in the landing configuration and the CVR Circuit Breakers were pulled.
An A300 ECAM alerted Green System Low Pressure climbing through 5;000 FT after takeoff so an emergency was declared; the QRH completed and the flight returned to the departure airport.