B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 206; Flight Crew Total 13000; Flight Crew Type 3300
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Upon Climbing out of FL300 the First Officer (Pilot Flying) noticed Hydraulic ELEC Pressure light flashing on the overhead panel. I pulled up the Hydraulic page on the lower DU. We saw the Hydraulic Qty depleting. By the time we got the QRH out it had gone to zero. We complied with the QRH; declared an emergency; TESTED the flight attendants and advised ATC we needed to return to the departure airport. We landed Flaps 15 landing. We made a comment to each other the speed was not much faster if not the same as other Flaps 30 landing. After landing Fire Rescue advised there was lots of smoke coming from the brakes. They asked if we wanted to taxi a little to let them cool off. So we proceeded down the parallel taxiway to the runway without using the brakes but letting it roll. After about 30 seconds they advised all the smoke had stopped abruptly. We proceeded to the terminal and deplaned the passengers. Fire Rescue came to the cockpit and advised the smoke was caused by Hydraulic Fluid dripping onto the warm brakes. The Brake temperature was normal and not hot at all.
[Narrative #2 contains no additional information.]
A B737 lost hydraulic fluid during climb so an emergency was declared; the QRH completed and flight returned to the departure for an uneventful landing.