B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210; Flight Crew Total 25000; Flight Crew Type 12000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
Climbing out after gear retraction between 500-800 FT we noticed EICAS messages 'HYD PRES SYS 1' and 'HYD QUAN SYS 1 LOW.' We continued our climb to 5;000 FT. We pulled out the check list and also notified ATC that we wanted to stay slow and on the departure. They had us climb to 7;000 then later to 9;000 FT. We ran the check list; got the autopilot on; notified the flight attendants; contacted Dispatch; and advised Maintenance. We advised ATC we were returning to the field would need a long straight in approach and requested a clearance back to the airport. We notified ATC we would need equipment standing by but priority handling was not necessary. We told them we would have to stop on the runway and be towed off. They asked us to delay our landing 15 - 20 minutes and we agreed. We again coordinated with the flight attendants and had them go through their checklist but advised we expected the landing should be normal. We completed and reviewed the checklists again; including the diversion and towing checklists; and prepared for landing. We descended early and put flaps down 5; 10; 20 early as it took longer. We used alternate gear extension and were fully configured 15 miles out on final. We landed with flaps 25 and autobrakes level 4. We turned off the autopilot at 800 FT. Landing was normal. CFR equipment and a tug met us and towed us off the runway to the gate.
[Narrative 2 contained no additional information.]
A B747 flight crew declared an emergency returned to their departure airport following the loss of HYD SYS I pressure and fluid.