On January 9th 2016 at 14:30Z (6:30am local time), Southwest Airlines 3097 had a bird strike after takeoff from Sacramento International Airport (KSMF). After extending their downwind for checklists they were handed-off to Norcal Approach on frequency 125.4, which is not monitored by LiveATC. About 20 minutes later they would return and land uneventfully at KSMF. Running time is 7 minutes. Transcript follows. Download follows the transcript.
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, Capital Tower, good morning!
KSMF Tower: Wind is 160 at 8. Runway 16R cleared for takeoff.
SWA3097: Runway 16R cleared for takeoff, Southwest 3097.
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, contact Norcal Departure. Good day!
SWA3097: Ok!
SWA3097: [mic clicks]
SWA3097: Southwest 3097 -- reduce thrust on the left -- Yup!
SWA3097: We are coming back to the airport! We had a bird strike!
SWA3097: We are coming back for landing, immediate, runway 16R!
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, Capital Tower, cleared to land 16R. Wind is 160 at 5.
SWA3097: Ok! Cleared to land 16R. We'll do a downwind here and get back to you when we've sorted things out. Thanks!
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, we will be rolling the trucks for you to 16R.
KSMF Tower: Is it an engine failure?
SWA3097: Uh, no! So far, we have a right engine that's good, number two.
SWA3097: The left engine we've reduced. Both engines are running.
SWA3097: And we'll get back to you in just a minute. Thanks for doing that!
SWA3097: We'll just run through our checklists real quick. Thank you!
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, roger!
KSMF Tower: You can extend your downwind as much as you need.
SWA3097: Thank you!
KSMF Ground: Battalion 28, Capital ground, emergency runway 16R.
KSMF ARFF: [inaudible]
KSMF ARFF: Capital ground, can you tell us what the emergency is?
KSMF Tower: [inaudible] Southwest, [inaudible], just departed.
KSMF Tower: Apparently, hit a bird.
KSMF Tower: Both engines are running at this point, but reduced thrust on the left engine.
KSMF Tower: Coming back to land, he currently is about 4 miles to the north of the field.
KSMF ARFF: Capital ground, [inaudible].
KSMF ARFF: All emergency vehicles go to their standby locations?
KSMF Ground: [inaudible]
KSMF ARFF: [inaudible]
KSMF Ground: [inaudible]
SWA3097: [inaudible]
KSMF Tower: That will be fine.
KSMF Tower: How much further would you like to go?
KSMF Tower: It might be better to switch you to Approach if you wanted to maneuver for a while.
SWA3097: We got to run a couple of checklists, so if you want to swap me over I'll talk to them and we can just get vectors from them around. Thanks!
KSMF Tower: Yeah, that might be a little better.
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, I'll have the frequency change for you in just a moment.
SWA3097: Alright, thanks!
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097 you can maintain 3000' if that is still working for you.
KSMF Tower: Contact Approach on 125.4 and we'll talk to you in just a moment.
KSMF Tower: The trucks will be standing by.
SWA3097: Ok 125.4, we'll talk to them. Thanks! We're going to stay at 3000'.
KSMF ARFF: [inaudible]
KSMF Ground: He's going out to the southwest, still northbound about 15 miles north of the field. [inaudible]
ASA367: Alaska 367 short runway 16L.
KSMF Tower: Alaska 367, Capital Tower, you've got birds in the vicinity.
KSMF Tower: Wind is 140 at 5. Runway 16L cleared for takeoff.
ASA367: Ok! Runway 16L, Alaska 367.
KSMF Tower: Battalion 28, we'll give you a heads up...
KSMF Tower: They're still northbound now running some checklists.
KSMF Tower: So, it's going to be a little while longer.
KSMF Tower: Initially, we thought they were going to be right back around to land.
KSMF Tower: But it's going to be at least a few more minutes.
KSMF Tower: Alaska 367, contact Norcal Departure. Good day!
ASA367: Roger, Alaska 367. So long!
SWA1315: Southwest 1315.
KSMF Ground: Southwest 1315, runway 16L. Taxi via B1, A, W, and D.
SWA1315: B1, A, W, D to 16L. Southwest 1315.
KSMF Ground: Southwest 1315, are you guys going to be ready at the end? If I...
KSMF Ground: We have got an emergency inbound. They are currently about 20 miles north. But a...
KSMF Ground: We can get you guys out before then to the south on 16R.
KSMF Tower: Batallion 28, the emergency aircraft is still maneuvering now, about 25 miles north.
KSMF Tower: Just a heads up, we will be departing runway 16R prior to their arrival.
KSMF ARFF: Any idea when it's coming back?
KSMF Tower: [inaudible]
KSMF ARFF: We have a bird strike, is that what I heard?
KSMF Tower: Affirmative.
SWA2546: Southwest 2546, We have fire equipment in front of us.
SWA2546:: Looks like they're moving, thank you!
KSMF Tower: Southwest 1315 contact Norcal Departure. Good day!
SWA1315: We're switching. Good day! Southwest 1315.
KSMF Tower: Southwest 2546, Capital Tower, wind is 170 at 6.
KSMF Tower: Runway 16R cleared for takeoff.
KSMF Tower: Use caution for birds in the vicinity.
KSMF Tower: Nothing currently in sight from the tower.
SWA2546: Roger that! Cleared for takeoff runway 16R. Southwest 2546.
KSMF Tower: Batallion 28, it does appear they are being vectored for the approach on a 10 mile final.
KSMF Tower: 110 passengers on board. Three hours of fuel.
KSMF Tower: Is that good enought to tell you?
KSMF Tower: Or do we need to pass that to someone else?
KSMF Tower: Understood, Batallion 28!
KSMF Tower: The emergency vehicle will be the next to land.
KSMF Tower: And that will be the next operation on that runway.
KSMF Tower: [inaudible], Capital Tower.
SWA3097: Southwest 3097 is 1 back from FAPIN
SWA3097: We've got the visual 16R for a full stop landing.
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, Capital Tower. Wind is 170 at 6.
KSMF Tower: Runway 16R cleared to land.
SWA3097: Cleared to land runway 16R, Southwest 3097.
SWA3097: We should be able to make it back to the gate under our own power.
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, roger!
KSMF Tower: Battalion 28, Tower.
KSMF Tower: You will be following him back to the gate.
KSMF Tower: Thank you!
SWA3097: [inaudible]
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, Tower, say again?
FDX463: FedEx 463 Heavy, push back?
KSMF Ground: FedEx 463 Heavy, hold your taxi momentarily here for a couple minutes.
KSMF Ground: We have an emergency inbound.
FDX463: Roger!
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, you can just remain on this frequency and taxi via A.
KSMF Tower: What gate are they sending you to?
SWA3097: Alpha! I think we're going to 14, but let me check with them real quick.
KSMF Tower: That's not a problem, Southwest 3097.
KSMF Tower: Taxi via A, and Y to the ramp.
SWA3097: Out Y to the ramp. Thanks for your help y'all, Southwest 3097!
KSMF Tower: Ok, no problem. Nice job!
KSMF Tower: Southwest 3097, just for our paperwork...
KSMF Tower: ...it was the left engine that was reduced thrust because of the strike?
SWA3097: Yeah, we couldn't tell you exactly where we hit them.
SWA3097: You know it was dark.
SWA3097: You could see them about the time that we flew through an entire flock of birds.
SWA3097: About a thousand feet.
SWA3097: They were pretty good size.
SWA3097: But it did do enough to the left engine that we did have to reduce power on just that one. But a...
SWA3097: We can let you know once we actually see the outside of the airplane too what else we had.
KSMF Tower: If there was any other damage we would appreciate the call back.
SWA3097: Ok, yeah, once I get out there I'll take a look at it. And a...
SWA3097: We have got a phone number for you, and I'll call you.
KSMF Tower: Did you say you need a number or you already have it?
SWA3097: We got one now in this fancy chart thing we have got now.
SWA3097: So I'll take a look and let you know in a little while.
KSMF Tower: Thanks, perfect!