Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Workload; Troubleshooting; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Logbook Entry
This report is submitted due to concerns regarding return-to-service preparation of our long-term stored aircraft.  This aircraft had a number of issues which precluded an on-time departure and caused us to question the true airworthiness of the aircraft.  Specifically; the aircraft had massively incorrect fuel loading; such that it required ~4+ hours to move fuel to the appropriate; legal-for-flight; locations.  Second; upon the first engine start; we were surprised to see to ECAM Caution messages for 'ENG 1 (and ENG 2) REV INHIBITED.'  Thrust reverser operation was; indeed; inhibited; so we encountered another half hour+ delay while computer settings were changed to allow thrust reverser operation.  (Maintenance Control advised that these messages were likely the result of a release-from-storage checklist item being left undone/missed.)  Our total delay ended up being five hours as our Dispatcher and us concurred that additional fuel was required for our flight to ZZZ due to incoming weather; which added another 20 or 30 minutes to the delays. Our concern is that the number of time consuming and potentially unsafe items we encountered in successfully launching our aircraft suggest that either the team at ZZZ1 was rushed to accomplish these tasks; and/or given insufficient time or staff to complete them.  Another possibility is that the appropriate training and task cards were not been provided?  Regardless of the causes; with so many aircraft coming back into service; it behooves us to look into the events of this return-to-service flight so as to preclude them from occurring again; thus enhancing flight safety.  Simply suggesting an investigation or evaluation of what transpired in this return-to-service flight so as prevent compromised flight operations going forward.
Captain reported long delay due to fuel imbalance and thrust reversers inhibited caused by human factors during return to service from long term storage.