A B757 left aft fuel pump EICAS message appeared approaching level off on a transpacific flight.a di...

Attributes
ACN	970288
Time
Date	201109
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Booster Pump
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60 Flight Crew Total 17000 Flight Crew Type 5500
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

Climbing to cruise; just short of level off; received a left aft fuel pump EICAS message. [We] ran the checklist and sent messages to dispatch and maintenance via ACARS advising them of the problem. We had not entered class two airspace. Company stated it was up to the crew as to whether or not we continued to destination with a failed fuel pump. We (first officer and captain) felt that if the second fuel pump on left tank failed half way across the pacific; we might not have access to enough fuel to reach land. We therefore elected to return to [departure airport] to have the problem addressed/fixed. Arriving [at departure airport] we performed an overweight landing. Aircraft weight was 212;000 pounds and a write-up was made to that effect. The aircraft was removed from service and we continued to [destination] in another aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757 Left Aft Fuel Pump EICAS message appeared approaching level off on a transpacific flight.A divert for maintenance was made. A replacement aircraft was provided and the flight continued to destination.

Narrative: Climbing to cruise; just short of level off; received a Left Aft Fuel Pump EICAS message. [We] ran the checklist and sent messages to Dispatch and Maintenance via ACARS advising them of the problem. We had not entered class two airspace. Company stated it was up to the crew as to whether or not we continued to destination with a failed fuel pump. We (First Officer and Captain) felt that if the second fuel pump on left tank failed half way across the Pacific; we might not have access to enough fuel to reach land. We therefore elected to return to [departure airport] to have the problem addressed/fixed. Arriving [at departure airport] we performed an overweight landing. Aircraft weight was 212;000 LBS and a write-up was made to that effect. The aircraft was removed from service and we continued to [destination] in another aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A B757 left aft fuel pump EICAS message appeared approaching level off on a transpacific flight.a divert for maintenance was made. A replacement aircraft was provided and the flight continued to destination.