Pressurization failure on A320 leads to conflict with ATC traffic and the need to descend.

Attributes
ACN	741006
Time
Date	200706
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 32000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : n/s
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	741006
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : cabin alt warning
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Flight was normal until green flashing cabin altitude came up with pressurization page at 8000 ft. We asked for an immediate descent due to a pressurization issue and were denied the descent. A turn was issued; however we were told to level at FL320. Cabin altitude was now approaching 10000 ft. A request for descent was denied again. I declared an emergency at this point. Descent was still delayed by ATC due to 'military activity.' we initiated a descent and shortly thereafter ATC started stepping us down. This was a slow; but constant loss of cabin pressure; and the cabin started descending with the descent. A return to the airport and an overweight landing were accomplished without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRESSURIZATION FAILURE ON A320 LEADS TO CONFLICT WITH ATC TRAFFIC AND THE NEED TO DESCEND.

Narrative: FLT WAS NORMAL UNTIL GREEN FLASHING CABIN ALT CAME UP WITH PRESSURIZATION PAGE AT 8000 FT. WE ASKED FOR AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT DUE TO A PRESSURIZATION ISSUE AND WERE DENIED THE DSCNT. A TURN WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER WE WERE TOLD TO LEVEL AT FL320. CABIN ALT WAS NOW APCHING 10000 FT. A REQUEST FOR DSCNT WAS DENIED AGAIN. I DECLARED AN EMER AT THIS POINT. DSCNT WAS STILL DELAYED BY ATC DUE TO 'MIL ACTIVITY.' WE INITIATED A DSCNT AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER ATC STARTED STEPPING US DOWN. THIS WAS A SLOW; BUT CONSTANT LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE; AND THE CABIN STARTED DSNDING WITH THE DSCNT. A RETURN TO THE ARPT AND AN OVERWT LNDG WERE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.