A320
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 10000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
On departure; a G HYD LO PR ECAM annunciated. That was followed by G HYD RSV LO. At the time we were operating in a high workload environment; on vectors and communicating with Departure about an altitude change. When the ECAM annunciated; we requested a level-off and vectors while we worked the problem. The Captain declared an emergency; and we prepared the aircraft for a return. We completed the checklists and requested vectors for a visual approach. The landing was uneventful. The Captain stopped on the runway. Airport fire services were on hand to inspect the exterior. Maintenance towed us in to the gate.
Passing 10;000 feet the Green Low Pressure and Green Reservoir ECAMS activated. Leveled off at 11;000 feet and asked for spacing vectors. After determining the Green System was lost and ECAM actions were complete; we called Dispatch and Maintenance to review the problem. The crew elected to return and Maintenance and Dispatch concurred. An emergency was declared and ATC was advised of the situation and the need to stop on the runway for a tow-in due to loss of nose wheel steering. Landing was uneventful and the aircraft was brought to a stop on the centerline. Fire trucks reviewed the aircraft and advised that hydraulic fluid was leaking onto the runway. The tug was connected and the aircraft towed to gate.
A320 flight crew experiences a Green Hydraulic system low pressure followed by a reservoir low level ECAM climbing out of 10;000 feet. An emergency is declared and the flight returns to the departure airport.