Date: 201903
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Taxiing out we noticed an exhaust smell and assumed it was caused by the aircraft in front of us. On departure climbout we noticed the smell getting worse. The Captain and I talked to each other to confirm we were both smelling same thing. The Captain called back to check with the inflight team to see if they could confirm smell. Once they confirmed the smell we immediately went on O2 and [notified ATC]. We proceeded to make immediate right hand turn for return to ZZZ. Both [the] Captain and I confirmed we were not feeling normal prior to O2 use. We landed overweight without incident. Upon landing we were met by inflight supervisor and emergency personnel. Getting medical attention for the crew proved to be trying as the [ZZZ Fire Department] Captain was extremely unhelpful with our situation. At one point I felt compelled to tell him to stand down as the crew was trying to notify the proper parties of the incident. I would like to add not one flight operation person was on scene. The scene in the terminal was chaotic; and we had zero support to help with creating a controlled environment. I transported to [city] Hospital where a series of test were performed. Again; no one from [airline] reached out to help me with proper paperwork procedures from such an incident. Even after being discharged from the hospital I had zero guidance. ZZZ Base Chief; had me pulled from duty; yet I still received a flight assignment from crew scheduling. As I write this narrative I feel as if nothing will change. No one will look to make improvements. This plane was dispatched on a transcontinental route with a generator deferred. This calls for the APU to be operated during the entire flight. While legal; I do not believe this to be the safest practice. That added fuel increased an already hazardous safety situation with overweight landing. Upon our landing we were unable to meet with any authority figure from Flight Operations to receive proper guidance. We run an airline 24/7 365; just because this was a weekend does not mean we cannot have proper support services for crews in need. Even after the incident there was zero guidance from Flight Operations. Base Chief was able to provide assistance to get me pulled off a trip. This effort was completely ignored as I was assigned a flight assignment yesterday evening. So my reward was additional phone calls as I try to recover. The O2 mask was filthy. Had this been a smoke event I would have been useless trying to operate aircraft. These must be properly cleaned on a regular basis. The [ZZZ Fire Department] Captain on the scene was extremely aggressive with a flight crew suffering from CO2 exposure. We need to be allowed to communicate with each other and our support teams without interference. He did not allow this to happen and needs to receive proper procedure on how to handle these incidents.




Synopsis: Air carrier First Officer reported noticing an exhaust smell during taxi and intensifying on initial climb.