EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During climb out from ZZZ; in a turn to 090; EICAS Message - RUD SYS 1-2 INOP appeared with [the associated] warning. I was hand flying at that time and did not feel any flight control problems. I directed the First Officer to run the QRH; the system reset successfully and we continued the climb to 15;000 on autopilot. Upon reaching 15;000 MSL the same message came up again; and the AP kicked off. I immediately took the controls; hand flew the aircraft and had the First Officer run the QRH again; and the system again reset successfully. I directed the First Officer to contact ATC; request a return to our departure airport and declare an emergency. ATC vectored us and asked us to initiate a descent to 11;000 feet; and asked us for the SOB; Fuel...etc. I told the First Officer that we'd get back to them on that. I then informed the Flight Attendant and passengers of the situation and the First Officer advised Dispatch via ACARS. During the descent and vectoring; the same message popped up 2 more times; and we dealt with those expeditiously; having had the benefit of recent experience. We were vectored for XXL; Tower cleared us to land; and we landed safely and taxied to our gate.
When the flight crew of an E145 received repeated EICAS warnings of both rudder control systems inoperative they opted to declare an emergency and return to their departure airport.