A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 12306
Physiological - Other
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Human Factors; Aircraft
Upon starting packs for the aircraft; a very nasty odor immediately permeated the entire aircraft. It smelled like dirty socks. I told the FO that it smelled like dirty socks or vinegar to me. [The FO] had the same experience and informed me that that was something he had experienced [recently] on descent with another aircraft and ended up with burning eyes at that time and a headache. I immediately turned off the packs and asked the FA if they also had smelled this pungent odor. They did. The FO told me that on the previous occasion; he filed a report because of the physical symptoms. He then told me that he would refuse to fly the aircraft; as he was very concerned; because on the previous occasion he had accumulated a lot of information of toxic fumes entering aircraft from leaking hydraulic seals or oil seals where fluids somehow were dispersed through aircraft; making crews ill. He next showed me documentation from his previous airline regarding toxic fumes in aircraft. He also showed me an article where an Airbus crew from [another airline] became physically ill during descent. The Captain and FO lost their medicals because of permanent neurological damage. They specifically reported an odor of dirty socks or vinegar for this event. We had flown this same aircraft the day before but did not smell anything. However; that night I did end up with a slight headache as did he. I decided to refuse this aircraft until the cause of smell could be determined. I will file a report. I believe this is serious enough to warrant a SERIOUS investigation as to the cause of this odor.
When Captain turned the packs on; I immediately smelled a vinegar odor. I held back immediate mention of it to see if Captain would mention he smelled it.  After a few seconds he said he smelled a vinegar odor and then went on to describe it as dirty socks or smelly laundry.  I agreed. He turned packs off and waited a few minutes. Odor dissipated. Upon turning them back on the second time; the smell reappeared and this time the flight attendants all agreed to the smell throughout the entire plane. Captain shut system off; called [Maintenance Control]; and dispatch; and refused further operation of the aircraft. We swapped into a new plane. I am educated on this type of fume event with the dirty sock odor; but my Captain was not aware of such a thing. His description of 'dirty sock' was the bingo words I needed to hear to confirm that we had a fumes event. FUME information MUST GET OUT TO THE AIRBUS pilot group! Today could have been a much more serious event health wise had I not known the signs.
A319 flight crew refused aircraft after noticing a 'dirty sock' smell during preflight at the gate.