A300 CREW WAS UNABLE TO RETRACT THE LNDG GEAR ON DEP FOR AN OVERWATER FLT; AND RETURNED TO THEIR DEP STATION.

Narrative

A FEW MOMENTS AFTER TKOF; FLT ATTENDANT #1 PURSER CALLED US ON THE INTERPHONE TO TELL US THAT SHE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS NOT NORMAL BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HEAR THE LNDG GEAR COMING UP BY THE TIME IT WOULD NORMALLY DO; AND TOLD US TO STAY ALERT TO ANY SIT THAT MAY ARISE. WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT TO CALL THE CAPT; HE CALLED HER TO TELL HER ABOUT THE SIT. THERE WAS A PROB WITH THE LNDG GEAR AND WE WERE GOING BACK TO JFK. WE CIRCLED AROUND FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN ORDER TO BURN FUEL SO WE COULD BE ABLE TO LAND SAFELY. CAPT MADE A PA TO EXPLAIN TO THE PAX ABOUT THE SIT AND WHAT WAS GOING TO BE DONE. FLT ATTENDANT #1 PURSER MADE A PA IN SPANISH AS WELL TO TRANSLATE. THE SIT WAS STRESSFUL; MANY PAX WERE NERVOUS; DID NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND VERY WELL THE SIT. WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT FLT ATTENDANT #1 PURSER DID A VERY GOOD JOB TRYING TO REASSURE; CALM AND INFORM THE PAX IN THE CABIN DURING THE SIT; AS WELL DID THE REST OF THE CREW. WE ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT TRAVELING PUBLIC IS VERY SENSITIVE TO ANY UNEXPECTED SIT; AFTER ALL THE ORDEAL AND UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS THAT OUR INDUSTRY HAS BEEN THROUGH IN THE LAST MONTHS; SO WE ARE ALWAYS VERY PATIENT AND COOPERATIVE WITH THEM.