A319
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 1500
Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification; Workload; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Upon gear retraction; received a L/G Shock Absorber fault followed by L/G doors not closed and L/G not uplocked. I continued to fly the airplane while the Captain worked the ECAM. We were given delay vectors while the Captain tried to establish communications with Dispatch and ATC. The Captain was unable to establish communications on several voice frequencies that he was directed to use by Dispatch. Being unable to communicate by voice. The Captain was forced to use the ACARS unit alone for communication. This greatly impeded our ability to effectively handle the situation and added to the time it took to work the problem. We asked for a hold while we completed the checklist which directed us to 'land at nearest suitable airport.' We made the decision to return to the departure airport but were asked via ACARS to take the airplane to a nearby airport which we declined to do. After completing the checklists and coordinating with Dispatch; Maintenance; flilght attendants and the passengers; control of the airplane was handed off to the Captain and we completed and ILS approach. Landing and taxi in were normal.
An A319 ECAM alerted L/G SHOCK ABSORBER; L/G DOORS NOT CLOSED; and L/G NOT UPLOCKED so the crew complied with the ECAM and returned to the departure airport.