2010-12 · NASA ASRS report 925636
An A319 departed a high altitude airport and could not pressurize in the AUTO Mode but received no ECAM alerts. The aircraft was ultimately pressurized in the Manual Mode but was returned to the departure airport where no discrepancies was discovered.
[We] departed TOGA; Packs OFF; flaps 2. I was pilot flying; Captain was pilot not flying. At thrust reduction altitude Pack 1 was selected ON; Pack 1 was not working. Pack 2 was selected ON; Pack 2 was not working. The PRESS page comes up on the lower ECAM advisory flashing as well. Cabin altitude was 9;350FT. The pilot not flying tries Manual Mode and it is not working either. We level off prior at 12;000 FT. The first altitude constraint on the departure is at or above 12;000 FT. ATC was informed that we needed to stay at 12;000 FT and hold somewhere to troubleshoot. ATC sends us to the departure airport VOR to hold at 12;000 FT. After the turn to the VOR the pilot not flying gets the Manual Mode working. We proceed to hold to burn off fuel; approximately an hour. We return to make a safe landing on the runway at a gross weight of 137;500. Pack 1 and Pack 2 were selected ON following normal SOP's. Manual Mode was tried after failure of both Packs. The lower ECAM also brought up the PRESS page. No ECAM actions came up.
Air turn back; no Emergency declared. Captain pilot not flying. Cabin still climbing slow (inlet;outlet and out flow valve closed) Pack 2 push button on; no change. Tried manual; no change. Stopped climb at 12;000 FT. Cabin altitude 9;360FT. Cabin creeping up slow. Once safely in hold tried to return to auto press and the cabin started to climb (9;450FT) returned to manual; and this time able to get cabin down to 8;000 FT. I was in contact with Maintenance and Dispatch via ACARS. Kept passengers and crew informed.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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