A320
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft
This was day four of five scheduled days in a row. I had a back to back three day and a two day trip; this being day one of the two day. The first two days of the three-day trip were late nights with the second day resulting in minimum rest (9 hours at the hotel). I spent the entire day prior to my report time literally laying around the house resting for XC18 LCL departure. I was attempting to recover from the three-day trip I had just flown. The fatigue call was a result of TWO issues: the creeping delay which was going to result in landing at approximately XI:30 AM body time and heat exhaustion due to the pack issue while taxiing. I arrived at the airport employee lot at approximately XA:35 PM and waited about eight mins for a bus. I was drenched with sweat when I got on the bus. I took the people mover over to the D concourse and upon entering the terminal; the first thing one noticed was the hot temperature in the terminal. It was approximately 80 in the terminal and the same in ops (numerous pilots were complaining). Aircraft was about 50 minutes late on the arrival. I spoke with the Captain and asked him if the aircraft was 'good.' He said it was; but that the APU was; 'a little anemic on the ground.'  We boarded the aircraft and as you can imagine; it was chaotic with all the activity. There were several minor maintenance issues; and cabin issues that added to the mix. The aircraft door was closed at about XC35 LCL and we pushed at XC55 LCL due to the delay with the maintenance documentation. Scheduled departure was XC18 LCL. The aircraft temperaTURES were hard to gauge because the aft cabin doors were opened multiple times do to servicing issues. The aft cabin was approximately 82 and the forward was 84; but the jetway was well over a 100 and the hot air was pouring in. The APU was just keeping up. My First Officer and I agreed that once the doors were closed and the engines running (based on the previous crew comments) that the temps would come down. Please note; at this point; it was not unsafe. In that type of heat and fully loaded airplanes; many APUs can't keep up. We started up and taxied out to 1R. During the taxi it became apparent that the packs were not keeping up with the demand even when on bleed air from the engines. We were in a long line of aircraft and concurrent with the pack issue; we were given a wheels up time of approximately 1+20 and assigned a spot in the runup block. Once in the blocks; we contacted maintenance via phone patch with Dispatch. We tried every combination of bleed air; hot air valve combinations but we were unable to get the temps below 88 degrees. I asked the Lead Flight Attendant if the temps were acceptable; meaning not unsafe. She said they were bearable at the moment but a prolonged delay was not acceptable. Dispatch was in the loop and was trying to get us priority to get in the air. A short time later; the Lead Flight Attendant advised us that all the ice melted (apparently they no longer put dry ice on the ice) and that we were out of bottled water. Well; with the cabin temps of 88; no ice; and the prospect of spending 4+ hours with no bottled water and warm drinks; we decided to go back to the gate. ATC still had a ground stop in place so the decision was now very easy. I could not leave these people on the ramp with those temps and unacceptable liquids. Also; I was starting to feel the effects of the heat. My undershirt was soaked and I was very uncomfortable. We returned to the gate and the total block time was approximately 1 hour 10 mins. The people were deplaned and Maintenance began to work on the issue. I left and went in the terminal in search of some cool air; which was very hard to find. There was one spot by the train entrance; which was cool. At one point I went to operations to use the restroom and splash cold water on my face. ALL THREE SINKS put out only HOT water no matter where the faucet was selected. It was HOT water; not warm. I could not get myself cool. I was sweating profusely and could not recover. At about XD:00 I returned to the gate and was told by the Mechanic that the problem was solved. He said it was the pack controllers. The airplane was cool; but I noticed that the airflow was much higher than normal. I asked him if he had the ground air on and he did. I asked him to put the APU on the aircraft and he was a little cranky that I wanted to check it out for myself. He placed the bleed in the ON position. I then asked him to remove the ground air. He did and guess what? The air output was warm. Now it's XD:15PM; our original flight attendants went illegal; new flight attendants are brought in and at about XD:30; THREE mechanics come up to the fight deck and ask; 'you guys have some sort of pack problem?'  I am sweating profusely; so much so one of the replacement flight attendants becomes concerned. She makes me sit down and gives me more water. Now the search for another airplane begins. And it becomes apparent to me that I will not be able to physically fly the flight; which at BEST; would leave at XE:45 PM. The cumulative affect of late nights; the creeping delay and the heat exhaustion with the pack issue made it unsafe to fly across the country at that time of the night/morning. I called the Chief Pilot on duty and informed him of the situation. I went home at about XE:15 PM. I am going to pick up the balance of my trip Friday evening.
A320 Captain describes calling in fatigued after numerous delays at the gate and a ground stop.  While on the taxiway to wait out the ground stop heat inside aircraft becomes excessive and they return to gate to remove passengers.  Mechanics are brought in but unable to fix the issue with the PACKS and ultimately the flight cancels.