A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Physiological - Other; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
[We] arrived at aircraft mid morning. Overwhelming exhaust smell permeated entire aircraft. Crew could not even stay on aircraft. Aircraft was towed over from remote location to gate before we arrived. There was no external air hooked up at the time of our arrival and the APU was off. We believed that the exhaust smell was from an external air cart hooked up while the plane was at the remote parking site. We turned on the APU to get air flowing and get heavy exhaust smell out. We did not allow passenger boarding until it was less prevalent. Also; we opened the cockpit windows to try to get fresh air in. The exhaust smell was much heavier in the cockpit. After boarding we taxied to deicing. Pack flow on high to try and get smell out. Exhaust smell still present. We took off and 20 minutes into the flight exhaust smell still present. Pack flow still on high. I elected to put on oxygen mask at 100%. The Captain put on his mask too. At this point I am sorry I did not put on mask earlier. The smell [was] still present. We rang back to flight attendants. They smelled it; but not strong. The Captain sent messages to Maintenance/Dispatch about the exhaust fumes smell. I left my mask on until 3 mile final. After turning off of runway I opened my cockpit window for fresh air. Upon arrival at gate; Maintenance; Chief Pilot and other supervisors met the aircraft. I believe that having our maintenance done in Central America and hiring contracted vendors elsewhere has degraded the quality of maintenance performed and is sub-standard. This is a recurring problem at this airline. The problem of fumes persists and continues. This is the second fumes event for me. I am very concerned about the affect of these events on my health. The passengers are also being put at risk. Everyone is aware of this problem; however; it appears profits are put ahead of health and safety.
The Reporter stated that the odor she experienced during this event was pure oil. On a previous similar event the smell was that of dirty socks and after that event the lingering effect she noted was abnormally high blood pressure for a period of days. She did not experience prolonged effects after this event because she donned her oxygen mask early. After landing four mechanics and the Chief Pilot all acknowledged the oil smell. One person noted that when the main cabin door was opened the odor was detected in the jetway prior to entering the aircraft.
An A320 crew detected an oil odor during preflight which dissipated but at cruise flight the odor again became very strong so that the crew donned oxygen until landing.