Narrative:

A B737-700 departed runway X at ZZZ airport. When local tried to switch the aircraft to departure control the pilot made a comment to standby. Local then advised the departure controller he would hold on to the B737 for a minute. The B737 advised local that he had a bird strike and would like to return to the airport. Reported the strike in the number 1 engine; with indications still normal but a loud vibration. As a controller in charge; and working ground control; I advised the newly certified local controller that if he was going to take the aircraft on the right downwind; to stop the B737 at 2;000; due to an C510 holding 7 southeast of the airport at 3;000. Local did this and told the B737 to enter a right downwind. As additional information was obtained; I notified the fire department and airport ops; via the crash phone; and frequencies. When I checked the radar scope next; the B737 was now approximately 7 southeast southbound at 2;000. I remembered the MVA in that area is 2;200; and advised local to climb the B737 to 2;200. The aircraft finally entered a right base and landed without incident. While this situation was going on; there was an extreme amount of coordination for both the local controller and the ground controller. I feel that in the radar room; there should be a designated person who is doing all the coordination with the tower; instead of different people calling at different points for different reasons. Also the local controller had not been tested or briefed on the MVA in the area before his certification; in the event of the emergency I feel we both did a good job of getting the proper assistance to the aircraft.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller described a momentary loss of MVA separation when an air carrier departure experienced a bird strike; entered a wide downwind; and returned to the airport.

Narrative: A B737-700 departed Runway X at ZZZ airport. When Local tried to switch the aircraft to Departure Control the pilot made a comment to standby. Local then advised the Departure Controller he would hold on to the B737 for a minute. The B737 advised Local that he had a bird strike and would like to return to the airport. Reported the strike in the Number 1 Engine; with indications still normal but a loud vibration. As a CIC; and working Ground Control; I advised the newly certified Local Controller that if he was going to take the aircraft on the right downwind; to stop the B737 at 2;000; due to an C510 holding 7 SE of the airport at 3;000. Local did this and told the B737 to enter a right downwind. As additional information was obtained; I notified the Fire Department and Airport Ops; via the crash phone; and frequencies. When I checked the RADAR scope next; the B737 was now approximately 7 SE southbound at 2;000. I remembered the MVA in that area is 2;200; and advised Local to climb the B737 to 2;200. The aircraft finally entered a right base and landed without incident. While this situation was going on; there was an extreme amount of coordination for both the Local Controller and the Ground Controller. I feel that in the RADAR room; there should be a designated person who is doing all the coordination with the Tower; instead of different people calling at different points for different reasons. Also the Local Controller had not been tested or briefed on the MVA in the area before his certification; in the event of the emergency I feel we both did a good job of getting the proper assistance to the aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.