Narrative:

During preflight, maintenance was unable to fix an aircraft pack #2 fault. My copilot and I agreed that dispatch with 1 pack inoperative might be possible if far's concerning WX, equipment, etc, were met. I contacted dispatch via ACARS to keep them abreast of the maintenance situation, asking the possibility of 1 pack operations. While coordinating with maintenance, we were scheduled to depart at XB00Z. At XA49Z we received ACARS message from dispatch to amend release #1 to show pack #2 inoperative. A new flight plan or additional fuel was not needed as we were already planned at FL310, the maximum for 1 pack dispatch. Maintenance was in touch with dispatch as well. Maintenance closed #2 pack valve, which we verified on ECAM, and gave us a new mrd reflecting #2 pack inoperative. Reviewing the new mrd, my first officer and I noted that the avionics vent system 'must operate normally.' all indications including ECAM and preflight were normal. We were aware of the MEL issued jan/sun/03 concerning the skin exchanger iso valve. This valve was confirmed open by maintenance. New mrd and release from dispatch, we were 'good to go.' we briefed to abort if avionics vent system fault occurred. Out at XB04Z, off at XB16Z. Operations normal. At FL200 we noticed message on printer sent at XB21Z to return. Phone patched dispatch/maintenance and relayed no avionics vent system fault and normal pressure. Concurred it was safe to continue.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIRBUS 320 CREW RPTS CONCERN ABOUT BEING DISPATCHED WITH #2 PACK INOP AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR OP OF THE AVIONICS VENT SYS.

Narrative: DURING PREFLT, MAINT WAS UNABLE TO FIX AN ACFT PACK #2 FAULT. MY COPLT AND I AGREED THAT DISPATCH WITH 1 PACK INOP MIGHT BE POSSIBLE IF FAR'S CONCERNING WX, EQUIP, ETC, WERE MET. I CONTACTED DISPATCH VIA ACARS TO KEEP THEM ABREAST OF THE MAINT SIT, ASKING THE POSSIBILITY OF 1 PACK OPS. WHILE COORDINATING WITH MAINT, WE WERE SCHEDULED TO DEPART AT XB00Z. AT XA49Z WE RECEIVED ACARS MESSAGE FROM DISPATCH TO AMEND RELEASE #1 TO SHOW PACK #2 INOP. A NEW FLT PLAN OR ADDITIONAL FUEL WAS NOT NEEDED AS WE WERE ALREADY PLANNED AT FL310, THE MAX FOR 1 PACK DISPATCH. MAINT WAS IN TOUCH WITH DISPATCH AS WELL. MAINT CLOSED #2 PACK VALVE, WHICH WE VERIFIED ON ECAM, AND GAVE US A NEW MRD REFLECTING #2 PACK INOP. REVIEWING THE NEW MRD, MY FO AND I NOTED THAT THE AVIONICS VENT SYS 'MUST OPERATE NORMALLY.' ALL INDICATIONS INCLUDING ECAM AND PREFLT WERE NORMAL. WE WERE AWARE OF THE MEL ISSUED JAN/SUN/03 CONCERNING THE SKIN EXCHANGER ISO VALVE. THIS VALVE WAS CONFIRMED OPEN BY MAINT. NEW MRD AND RELEASE FROM DISPATCH, WE WERE 'GOOD TO GO.' WE BRIEFED TO ABORT IF AVIONICS VENT SYS FAULT OCCURRED. OUT AT XB04Z, OFF AT XB16Z. OPS NORMAL. AT FL200 WE NOTICED MESSAGE ON PRINTER SENT AT XB21Z TO RETURN. PHONE PATCHED DISPATCH/MAINT AND RELAYED NO AVIONICS VENT SYS FAULT AND NORMAL PRESSURE. CONCURRED IT WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.