Citation Excel (C560XL)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During takeoff and climb out; smelled a strong odor of exhaust. I thought it was from an [airliner] flight that landed just prior to us taking off. Odor continued into climbout. APU was running; so we turned it off just in case it was coming from it. Crew made a decision to return to ZZZ. On downwind; we turned press source off and odor started to dissipate. Landed at ZZZ without incident. After landing both crewmembers felt a little nauseous and determined it would not be safe to do the next passenger trip.
After takeoff and initial climbout; crew noticed Jet A smell coming through air conditioning and vents in cockpit. Crew thought smell maybe had come from an airliner flight that had just landed prior to our take off and we had ingested some of their exhaust. Once we turned crosswind the smell continued and Co-Captain turned off the APU and APU bleed air. We determined the smell was not normal and advised ZZZ Controller turned us onto a right downwind for Runway XXL. During that time we turned the Pressure source to OFF and the smell subsided at that time. Normal landing was made on Runway XXL; no emergency was declared because the smelled stopped with source off. After landing the crew felt nauseous and decided not to continue with next flight and new airplane. We did feel better after standing outside for a while in the fresh air. We notified MX and Duty Manager who put us on duty not involving flying.
CE-560XLS flight crew reported exhaust type fumes during takeoff and initial climb. Crew executed a precautionary air return. Flight crew reported physiological issues.