Narrative:

During the arrival phase into ZZZ; ATC issued a crossing altitude clearance of 55 west of zzzzz at FL240. This was given too late and too close to the fix to make. I increased the rate of descent to 3500-4000 feet per minute in an attempt to make the clearance. When it was obvious that we would never make the crossing; we immediately notified ATC that it was going to be impossible to make the crossing; but we were doing the best we could. Shortly afterwards; I started to notice a musty smell coming from the environmental system (smell of dirty socks). This was a very mild fume event; but obvious that it was happening. I then started noticing a bitter metallic taste in my mouth and throat and told the first officer that I was quite sure we were getting the fume event that has occurred in many airbus aircraft. I donned my oxygen mask and advised the first officer to do the same. Since we were already on the arrival phase into our destination airport and since it was a mild event; I chose not to exercise pilot's emergency authority. When the first officer (first officer) entered the crossing clearance into the FMS; he accidentally entered the altitude into the zzzzz fix on the arrival. When he corrected his mistake; he re-entered the altitude at the 55 DME fix from zzzzz and then cleared the altitude at zzzzz that he mistakenly entered. With the distraction of the fume event; that we were know dealing with; we both missed the fact that by the first officer clearing the mis-entered crossing altitude at the zzzzz intersection; this also cleared the charted altitude for that fix. We didn't notice the issue until just crossing the fix and cross-referencing the STAR chart and discovering that we were approximately 800 feet low. We immediately notified ATC: they gave us a descend to maintain altitude clearance to take us off the crossing altitudes on the charted STAR. After arriving into ZZZ; and now having to wait for an occupied gate; we noticed that the fumes/smell was not as noticeable and seemed to come and go. After parking at the gate; I entered the event in the logbook and notified maintenance control with the write up. During the deplaning process and prior to contacting maintenance control; I talked to the flight attendants (flight attendant) about any abnormal smells that they had noticed. They all informed me that they did faintly smell something musty. When I asked how they were feeling; one flight attendant indicated that she felt a little light headed and somewhat out of sorts. They all complained about a burning sensation in their throats. I advised them to get off the airplane to get some fresh air and to let me know if they need medical attention up to and including emergency medical services and that; I was certain that we experienced a fume event. About 45 minutes to an hour later; all the flight attendants informed me that they would like to get some medical attention; but didn't feel that they needed to go to the emergency room. I recommended that they call their immediate supervisors or managers and get advice on how to proceed. They all did so and ended up calling a nurse/medical professional to discuss their conditions. After eventually trouble shooting the aircraft systems and determining that the fume event could not be reproduced; maintenance control released the aircraft back into service for our next scheduled flight. Two very concerning events transpired during this time of assessing all crewmembers condition and fitness for flight. The first officer and I both felt okay to continue after spending nearly 2 hours on the ramp getting fresh air. When I consulted with the flight attendants about their physical conditions and fitness for flight; they all were very hesitant about making a decision about continuing. Although they all were feeling a little better; the concern that they all voiced was 'fear from reprimand from management; or loss of points under their attendance policy if they decided that they were not well enough to continue.' iinformed them that this was not a decision I could make for them; but if they felt that they needed additional medical attention or were not well enough to fly that they would have to make that decision on their own personal wellbeing. In the end; they did all let me know that they thought they could continue on the next flight. This policy that company has regarding flight attendants sick call issues and attendance policy should be reviewed. I see this quite often and in fact on a regular basis; our flight attendants working in fear of disciplinary actions if they call sick. I see flight attendants working flights who are obviously ill and should not be in the workplace risking other employees' exposure to viruses; let alone the severe outcome that would occur with a pressurization event and flying with a severe cold.the other concerning issue that occurred during this event was in regards to a discussion I had with a crew scheduler. They had called the first officer's phone and asked him to have me call them back when I could. I did notice they had tried to call my phone earlier; but was quite busy at the time working the flight attendants medical issues and the maintenance hurdles with the aircraft. When I returned the call; the question that was asked was; 'we were just following up to see where things were at with the aircraft was wandering if you would fly the airplane with the smell?' I really couldn't believe what was just asked of me. I advised them that I had no idea what the status of the flight attendants was due to the fact that they asking for medical attention; and at the time wasn't even sure of the progress of the maintenance issue or if the aircraft was going to be legal to fly. Although I would hope that the question was in regards to possible residual smell; but the question quite frankly was shocking and that they would even ask this type of question. I am not sure what was implied by the question; but seemed as though they were asking if I would fly the airplanes with the smell of fumes. The flight did finally depart with no further events after being released by maintenance control.during this event and after the fact; it might have been a good idea to notify ATC of our predicament in this case; but because we were already in the approach phase; I felt at the time it may have complicated matters rather than assisting in the busy environment; we were in. I felt we were not in a dire state of emergency at the time. I have the mindset to never hesitate to notify ATC of an emergency if needed; but in this case didn't feel it wasn't immediately necessary.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 Captain reported donning on oxygen mask after experiencing mild fumes during descent. The Captain further expressed concerns about hesitation of Flight Attendants to call-in unfit for duty due to fears of reprimand from management.

Narrative: During the arrival phase into ZZZ; ATC issued a crossing altitude clearance of 55 West of ZZZZZ at FL240. This was given too late and too close to the fix to make. I increased the rate of descent to 3500-4000 feet per minute in an attempt to make the clearance. When it was obvious that we would never make the crossing; we immediately notified ATC that it was going to be impossible to make the crossing; but we were doing the best we could. Shortly afterwards; I started to notice a musty smell coming from the environmental system (smell of dirty socks). This was a very mild fume event; but obvious that it was happening. I then started noticing a bitter metallic taste in my mouth and throat and told the First officer that I was quite sure we were getting the fume event that has occurred in many Airbus Aircraft. I donned my oxygen mask and advised the first officer to do the same. Since we were already on the arrival phase into our destination airport and since it was a mild event; I chose not to exercise Pilot's Emergency Authority. When the First Officer (FO) entered the crossing clearance into the FMS; he accidentally entered the altitude into the ZZZZZ fix on the arrival. When he corrected his mistake; he re-entered the altitude at the 55 DME fix from ZZZZZ and then cleared the altitude at ZZZZZ that he mistakenly entered. With the distraction of the fume event; that we were know dealing with; we both missed the fact that by the FO clearing the mis-entered crossing altitude at the ZZZZZ intersection; this also cleared the charted altitude for that fix. We didn't notice the issue until just crossing the fix and cross-referencing the STAR chart and discovering that we were approximately 800 feet low. We immediately notified ATC: They gave us a descend to maintain altitude clearance to take us off the crossing altitudes on the charted STAR. After arriving into ZZZ; and now having to wait for an occupied gate; we noticed that the fumes/smell was not as noticeable and seemed to come and go. After parking at the gate; I entered the event in the logbook and notified Maintenance control with the write up. During the deplaning process and prior to contacting maintenance control; I talked to the Flight Attendants (FA) about any abnormal smells that they had noticed. They all informed me that they did faintly smell something musty. When I asked how they were feeling; one FA indicated that she felt a little light headed and somewhat out of sorts. They all complained about a burning sensation in their throats. I advised them to get off the airplane to get some fresh air and to let me know if they need medical attention up to and including emergency medical services and that; I was certain that we experienced a fume event. About 45 minutes to an hour later; all the flight attendants informed me that they would like to get some medical attention; but didn't feel that they needed to go to the emergency room. I recommended that they call their immediate supervisors or managers and get advice on how to proceed. They all did so and ended up calling a nurse/medical professional to discuss their conditions. After eventually trouble shooting the Aircraft systems and determining that the fume event could not be reproduced; Maintenance Control released the aircraft back into service for our next scheduled flight. Two very concerning events transpired during this time of assessing all crewmembers condition and fitness for flight. The First Officer and I both felt okay to continue after spending nearly 2 hours on the ramp getting fresh air. When I consulted with the Flight Attendants about their physical conditions and fitness for flight; they all were very hesitant about making a decision about continuing. Although they all were feeling a little better; the concern that they all voiced was 'Fear from reprimand from management; or loss of points under their attendance policy if they decided that they were not well enough to continue.' Iinformed them that this was not a decision I could make for them; but if they felt that they needed additional medical attention or were not well enough to fly that they would have to make that decision on their own personal wellbeing. In the end; they did all let me know that they thought they could continue on the next flight. This policy that company has regarding Flight Attendants sick call issues and attendance policy should be reviewed. I see this quite often and in fact on a regular basis; our Flight Attendants working in fear of disciplinary actions if they call sick. I see Flight Attendants working flights who are obviously ill and should not be in the workplace risking other employees' exposure to viruses; let alone the severe outcome that would occur with a pressurization event and flying with a severe cold.The other concerning issue that occurred during this event was in regards to a discussion I had with a crew scheduler. They had called the First Officer's phone and asked him to have me call them back when I could. I did notice they had tried to call my phone earlier; but was quite busy at the time working the Flight Attendants medical issues and the Maintenance hurdles with the Aircraft. When I returned the call; the question that was asked was; 'We were just following up to see where things were at with the Aircraft was wandering if you would fly the Airplane with the smell?' I really couldn't believe what was just asked of me. I advised them that I had no idea what the status of the Flight Attendants was due to the fact that they asking for medical attention; and at the time wasn't even sure of the progress of the maintenance issue or if the aircraft was going to be legal to fly. Although I would hope that the question was in regards to possible residual smell; but the question quite frankly was shocking and that they would even ask this type of question. I am not sure what was implied by the question; but seemed as though they were asking if I would fly the airplanes with the smell of fumes. The flight did finally depart with no further events after being released by Maintenance control.During this event and after the fact; it might have been a good idea to notify ATC of our predicament in this case; but because we were already in the approach phase; I felt at the time it may have complicated matters rather than assisting in the busy environment; we were in. I felt we were not in a dire state of emergency at the time. I have the mindset to never hesitate to notify ATC of an emergency if needed; but in this case didn't feel it wasn't immediately necessary.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.