A300
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Aircraft APU was inop for engine starts; I noticed what I thought was exhaust smell from the GPU that was running next to the aircraft at the time crew boarded aircraft; the AC Packs had been selected on when flight crew boarded the aircraft; again the GPU was hooked up and running at this time. As we prepared the cockpit in preflight duties; we had discussed the INOP APU MEL; and it suggested in the notes section of QRH that the PACKS should remain OFF. The AC PACKS were then selected to OFF as directed by the QRH/MEL Procedures. After the takeoff; I asked the First Officer if he smelled anything strange and he concurred with me. I then deselected ECON FLOW from the overhead panel in order to bring more fresh air into the aircraft; [which] seemed to make a difference. I sent [an] ACARS message to the Dispatcher of the flight and advised him that we had fumes/odors in the cockpit of the aircraft and that I would keep him advised. I did not elect to [advise ATC] and since the event seemed to clear up after deselecting ECON FLOW; the flight crew did not don oxygen masks. Upon our arrival in to the terminal area at ZZZ1; we then started to get the same fumes/odors while at low altitude on final approach to the runway; after touchdown we did not notice the fumes/odors. I did not [advise ATC] due to the fact that the event seemed to subside after deselecting ECON FLOW. I was in touch with the Dispatcher throughout the remainder of the flight. I called the Dispatcher immediately after block-in and we discussed a couple items regarding declaring an emergency and use of oxygen masks; I told him we did neither and thanked him for staying in touch with us throughout the course of the flight.
A300 Captain reported a fumes event of varying intensity from engine start until engine shutdown at destination.