A330
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure; Weather
On return to hard stand at [a European station] with APU on MEL; improper aux air conditioning was provided causing passenger discomfort. Maintenance fixed problem in one hour; but we sat unassisted for 35 more minutes waiting for pushback crew while temperatures were exceeding comfort levels in the cabin with 295 passengers on board. I almost resorted to emergency procedures just to maintain customer comfort. No one came to our assistance while we waited on hard stand for 35 minutes after numerous phone calls to Dispatch; operations radio and ground interphone contact causing high anxiety for entire flight and cabin crew.Improper planning for maintenance return to a hard stand with inoperative APU.We should have gone back to a gate (it was unavailable;) instead of the hard stand; with working aux power and air for proper passenger comfort.More responsive assistance when Captain was calling all resources for help! This almost climaxed with an emergency situation before we finally got a push crew to assist and start engines for cabin cooling after a long delay waiting for answers to the Captain's calls. Cabin reached very high temps while waiting; almost cancelled flight with 295 passengers on board; but it would have been even more difficult to deplane in those conditions and bus to gate. Never dispatch ETOPS aircraft with inoperative APU; and pressurization door MELS. Always a bad idea to operate ETOPS with multiple MELS due to conflicting operations. (Without proper assurance of good aux ground air conditioning!)
A330 Captain reported extreme passenger and crew discomfort related to high temperatures in the aircraft on the ground at a European airport. APU was on MEL and improper aux air conditioning was provided.