B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 230; Flight Crew Total 13000; Flight Crew Type 7000
Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
During climb we observed a right wing anti-ice EICAS message which meant the right wing anti-ice valve was now open with the switch in the off position. As the Relief Pilot; I was asked by the Captain to run the checklist and get in touch with Maintenance. It was very difficult to get a good connection with Dispatch or Maintenance for some 10 minutes. The phone patch dropped several times; for instance. After some time I was able to have a productive communication with Maintenance Control and Dispatch. They agreed we needed to return.I informed the Captain; who then asked that I coordinate our return with local operations i.e. gates; passenger issues etc. While speaking to these various agencies I was not on active ATC frequency and was not aware of the routes or the arrival given to us.We landed safely and the plane was fixed overnight. We departed for Paris the next day.
After EICAS warned of a stuck open wing anti-ice valve a B767-300 Relief Pilot was tasked with communicating with Maintenance and Dispatch while the flying crew coordinated their return for maintenance attention. The Relief Pilot encountered some difficulty maintaining communications; but was able to complete his assigned tasks.