Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Physiological - Other; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
On climb out I (First Officer) happened to notice a wisp of smoke coming from under the ACARS area of the instrument panel. After a short time we began to smell a slight burning odor. We decided to return to the departure airport. The smoke and odor stopped. We continued to return; ran the QRH checklist and declared an emergency. We did an uneventful overweight landing. We entered both the overweight landing and smoke in the logbook.
[Narative #2 had no additional information.]
A MD82 crew returned to the departure airport after a wisp of smoke and an electrical odor appeared to come from the ACARS unit.