Narrative:

This started over 2 hours before my flight when I discovered that I would have no APU going to ZZZ. I called dispatch to see if there is any other plane to swap with so I could avoid taking a no APU airplane to nyc airspace on a bad weather (storms brewing); hot day and likely a delayed flight when we would get there. Also ZZZ has no air carts for cooling on the ground. I believe the dispatch manager tried but none were available logistically. We left a minute late and I told gate not to disconnect cooling air till we were ready to start; cabin was secure and ready and ramp was ready to start. If I had not done this air most likely would have been pulled 10 to 15 minutes before departure and with APU deferred this just adds to the inability to get going quick and if pulled early passengers roast! We departed and when in range requested an air cart but were told there were none. We arrived with 40 minutes to turn. I went inside and informed the gate agent to make an announcement that there was a cooling system for the airplane that didn't work on the ground and that it would be very warm on the ground till we got airborne where it would start to cool but remain hot. I left and when passengers started coming out I asked what she had told the passengers was told by her she didn't want to make the announcement and left it up to me. Well; that raised my blood pressure but I left it alone and just decided I was on my own for this operation. The reason I wanted passengers informed were in case there where people that have difficulty breathing or use oxygen that they could make an informed decision whether to board that flight. As airplane sat and was baked by the sun and 83 degree temperature the cabin temperature quickly climbed. They eventually boarded 49 passengers and it not only got hot but very humid/stuffy. We tried as safely and quickly as possible to get airborne but the weight and balance would not work until we made several moves in back and forth load revisions. Which meant we sat for 20 plus minutes with full passengers and no or very little airflow with one engine running. Cabin temperature was very hot and I can't quote temperature till after takeoff but after cooling for a few minutes the temp was only down to 36C/97F according to cabin temp gauge and it was very uncomfortable in the back. Cabin eventually cooled to 32 C till landing where airflow slowed to a trickle due to idling engines and temperature and comfort level deteriorated. At no time did anyone; to my knowledge; ask to leave. I also stood up in the galley during one of the last load revisions to apologize for the temp conditions on the plane but were trying to sort weight and balance issues and were trying to depart as safely and quickly as possible.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ-200 Captain related his concerns about being dispatched with an inoperative APU when ground ambient temperatures would be very high and no air conditioning support equipment would be available.

Narrative: This started over 2 hours before my flight when I discovered that I would have no APU going to ZZZ. I called dispatch to see if there is any other plane to swap with so I could avoid taking a no APU airplane to NYC airspace on a bad weather (storms brewing); hot day and likely a delayed flight when we would get there. Also ZZZ has no Air carts for cooling on the ground. I believe the dispatch manager tried but none were available logistically. We left a minute late and I told gate not to disconnect cooling air till we were ready to start; cabin was secure and ready and ramp was ready to start. If I had not done this air most likely would have been pulled 10 to 15 minutes before departure and with APU deferred this just adds to the inability to get going quick and if pulled early passengers roast! We departed and when in range requested an air cart but were told there were none. We arrived with 40 minutes to turn. I went inside and informed the gate agent to make an announcement that there was a cooling system for the airplane that didn't work on the ground and that it would be very warm on the ground till we got airborne where it would start to cool but remain hot. I left and when passengers started coming out I asked what she had told the passengers was told by her she didn't want to make the announcement and left it up to me. Well; that raised my blood pressure but I left it alone and just decided I was on my own for this operation. The reason I wanted passengers informed were in case there where people that have difficulty breathing or use oxygen that they could make an informed decision whether to board that flight. As airplane sat and was baked by the sun and 83 degree temperature the cabin temperature quickly climbed. They eventually boarded 49 passengers and it not only got hot but very humid/stuffy. We tried as safely and quickly as possible to get airborne but the weight and balance would not work until we made several moves in back and forth load revisions. Which meant we sat for 20 plus minutes with full passengers and no or very little airflow with one engine running. Cabin temperature was very hot and I can't quote temperature till after takeoff but after cooling for a few minutes the temp was only down to 36C/97F according to cabin temp gauge and it was very uncomfortable in the back. Cabin eventually cooled to 32 C till landing where airflow slowed to a trickle due to idling engines and temperature and comfort level deteriorated. At no time did anyone; to my knowledge; ask to leave. I also stood up in the galley during one of the last load revisions to apologize for the temp conditions on the plane but were trying to sort weight and balance issues and were trying to depart as safely and quickly as possible.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.