Narrative:

Aircraft APU was inop for engine starts; I noticed what I thought was exhaust smell from the gpu that was running next to the aircraft at the time crew boarded aircraft; the AC packs had been selected on when flight crew boarded the aircraft; again the gpu was hooked up and running at this time. As we prepared the cockpit in preflight duties; we had discussed the inoperative APU MEL; and it suggested in the notes section of QRH that the packs should remain off. The AC packs were then selected to off as directed by the QRH/MEL procedures. After the takeoff; I asked the first officer if he smelled anything strange and he concurred with me. I then deselected econ flow from the overhead panel in order to bring more fresh air into the aircraft; [which] seemed to make a difference. I sent [an] ACARS message to the dispatcher of the flight and advised him that we had fumes/odors in the cockpit of the aircraft and that I would keep him advised. I did not elect to [advise ATC] and since the event seemed to clear up after deselecting econ flow; the flight crew did not don oxygen masks. Upon our arrival in to the terminal area at ZZZ1; we then started to get the same fumes/odors while at low altitude on final approach to the runway; after touchdown we did not notice the fumes/odors. I did not [advise ATC] due to the fact that the event seemed to subside after deselecting econ flow. I was in touch with the dispatcher throughout the remainder of the flight. I called the dispatcher immediately after block-in and we discussed a couple items regarding declaring an emergency and use of oxygen masks; I told him we did neither and thanked him for staying in touch with us throughout the course of the flight.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 Captain reported a fumes event of varying intensity from engine start until engine shutdown at destination.

Narrative: Aircraft APU was inop for engine starts; I noticed what I thought was exhaust smell from the GPU that was running next to the aircraft at the time crew boarded aircraft; the AC Packs had been selected on when flight crew boarded the aircraft; again the GPU was hooked up and running at this time. As we prepared the cockpit in preflight duties; we had discussed the INOP APU MEL; and it suggested in the notes section of QRH that the PACKS should remain OFF. The AC PACKS were then selected to OFF as directed by the QRH/MEL Procedures. After the takeoff; I asked the First Officer if he smelled anything strange and he concurred with me. I then deselected ECON FLOW from the overhead panel in order to bring more fresh air into the aircraft; [which] seemed to make a difference. I sent [an] ACARS message to the Dispatcher of the flight and advised him that we had fumes/odors in the cockpit of the aircraft and that I would keep him advised. I did not elect to [advise ATC] and since the event seemed to clear up after deselecting ECON FLOW; the flight crew did not don oxygen masks. Upon our arrival in to the terminal area at ZZZ1; we then started to get the same fumes/odors while at low altitude on final approach to the runway; after touchdown we did not notice the fumes/odors. I did not [advise ATC] due to the fact that the event seemed to subside after deselecting ECON FLOW. I was in touch with the Dispatcher throughout the remainder of the flight. I called the Dispatcher immediately after block-in and we discussed a couple items regarding declaring an emergency and use of oxygen masks; I told him we did neither and thanked him for staying in touch with us throughout the course of the flight.

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.