Narrative:

While at cruise FL370 number 2 pack overheated, followed ECAM/communication procedures. Turned off pack, cooled re-established pack. Pack overheated again, turned pack off for remainder. At FL350 approximately 200 mi out of pbi (destination) cabin pressurization system 2 fault occurred. Automatic-switched to number 1 system. Shortly thereafter number 1 system started to fluctuate plus/minus 200 FPM. I believed it would be prudent to start an early descent based on a 1 pack operation and comfort. ATC cleared us to FL290. Initially there was a slight increase in the rate of climb. Then cabin descended at a 400-500 FPM rate of descent with some fluctuations. Although we had control of the cabin, and based on good WX at destination and alternate, and being 500 pounds ahead on fuel, I elected to continue our descent and requested FL180 to 10000 ft respectively. I felt this to be the best course of action in the event we had to use manual pressurization. This was not necessary since we never lost control of the cabin through number 1 system, there was some difficulty obtaining a lower altitude from ATC due to crossing traffic. This was expedited by my notifying them that we were having pressurization difficulties. I had the impression that ATC might have believed that this was an emergency, which it was not since I had control of the cabin and I never declared an emergency. I briefed the lead flight attendant as to the nature of the problem and the early descent. Logbook write-ups were entered and called in for both problems and no emergency declared.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NUMBER 2 AIR CONDITIONING PACK OVERHEATED IN CRUISE FOLLOWED BY CABIN PRESSURIZATION SYS 2 FAULT. NUMBER 1 SYS TOOK OVER AND OPERATED NORMALLY. EXPEDITED DSCNT PROVIDED BY ATC WHEN TOLD ACFT HAD PRESSURIZATION PROB. THERE WAS NO PRESSURIZATION PROB.

Narrative: WHILE AT CRUISE FL370 NUMBER 2 PACK OVERHEATED, FOLLOWED ECAM/COM PROCS. TURNED OFF PACK, COOLED RE-ESTABLISHED PACK. PACK OVERHEATED AGAIN, TURNED PACK OFF FOR REMAINDER. AT FL350 APPROX 200 MI OUT OF PBI (DEST) CABIN PRESSURIZATION SYS 2 FAULT OCCURRED. AUTO-SWITCHED TO NUMBER 1 SYS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER NUMBER 1 SYS STARTED TO FLUCTUATE PLUS/MINUS 200 FPM. I BELIEVED IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO START AN EARLY DSCNT BASED ON A 1 PACK OP AND COMFORT. ATC CLRED US TO FL290. INITIALLY THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE RATE OF CLB. THEN CABIN DSNDED AT A 400-500 FPM RATE OF DSCNT WITH SOME FLUCTUATIONS. ALTHOUGH WE HAD CTL OF THE CABIN, AND BASED ON GOOD WX AT DEST AND ALTERNATE, AND BEING 500 LBS AHEAD ON FUEL, I ELECTED TO CONTINUE OUR DSCNT AND REQUESTED FL180 TO 10000 FT RESPECTIVELY. I FELT THIS TO BE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IN THE EVENT WE HAD TO USE MANUAL PRESSURIZATION. THIS WAS NOT NECESSARY SINCE WE NEVER LOST CTL OF THE CABIN THROUGH NUMBER 1 SYS, THERE WAS SOME DIFFICULTY OBTAINING A LOWER ALT FROM ATC DUE TO XING TFC. THIS WAS EXPEDITED BY MY NOTIFYING THEM THAT WE WERE HAVING PRESSURIZATION DIFFICULTIES. I HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT ATC MIGHT HAVE BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS AN EMER, WHICH IT WAS NOT SINCE I HAD CTL OF THE CABIN AND I NEVER DECLARED AN EMER. I BRIEFED THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT AS TO THE NATURE OF THE PROB AND THE EARLY DSCNT. LOGBOOK WRITE-UPS WERE ENTERED AND CALLED IN FOR BOTH PROBS AND NO EMER DECLARED.

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.