A320
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors
Conducted a routine safe flight from ZZZ to ZZZZ on. I was contacted by Gatekeeper Representative regarding this flight. We completed our duties/checklist in accordance with company policies and procedures outlined in the FOM and had no indication of a faulty or inoperative Over-Wing Slide. The aircraft was found to have had multiple faulty/inoperative Over-Wing Emergency slides; which was discovered by Company Maintenance personnel. Again; we had no cockpit indication of these faults. The flight was completed safely with no issues.
Prior to push back; all normal duties were performed and all checklists were completed. I; as Captain checked the DOOR page on ECAM to review all doors 'Closed and Armed.' I noticed forward and rear Cabin Doors; closed and armed; but the Over-Wing window [Emergency Exits] did not show 'Armed.' I questioned this reading and asked the First Officer (F/O) and IRO to verify and confirm the indication; which is a no indication of 'SLIDE'.  I then called the flight attendants to confirm that the Over-Wing Exits looked normal; which they confirmed looked normal.Prior to pushback; the DOOR page on ECAM was checked and indicated that the Forward and Aft cabin doors were 'Closed and Armed;' but the over-wing windows had no indication. I questioned the F/O and IRO about the indication then called the flight attendants to check the exits; which they confirmed looked fine. After a discussion about the indication; the three pilots mistakenly surmised that since this was a new airplane maybe this is the new indication. I briefly considered calling Maintenance; but noticed the loading bridge was parked; the agent was gone and we had gotten clearance to push back. In our minds; everything was normal so I dismissed the calling of Maintenance for assistance.Even though we had been taught that the Over-Wing windows are always armed on the Airbus A320; the absence of both lights on the ECAM confused all three pilots and we mistakenly fell into a false sense of normalcy; believing this must be normal; since this is a new airplane. In all the years I have flown the airplane; we are taught that 'the Over-Wing Exits are always armed' and seeing a 'NO lights' indication on the ECAM did not sufficiently alert any of the three pilots on the flight deck.
Two pilots were informed they had flown their A320 aircraft over water with multiple Over-Wing Emergency Exit slides disarmed. Pilots noted there were no slide fault indications on their DOOR ECAM page.