Narrative:

We were descending to FL240. Passing 28000 ft I turn on engine heat. A few seconds later we started getting momentary ECAM of aft/forward cargo fire and faults. Since the ecams would only last a half a second there was nothing to recall or see exactly what was going on. We determined after 7-8 indications that we should declare emergency and notify dispatch. We landed 15 mins later and had fireman inspect both cargo compartments; everything was normal. We then taxied to gate. We also had flight attendant inspect flooring in cabin while airborne for softness or heat. I informed them of a cabin advisory and talked with passenger often.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 FWD/AFT CARGO FIRE AND FAULTS ECAM ILLUMINATED AFTER ENG HEAT WAS TURNED ON DURING DESCENT. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING TO FL240. PASSING 28000 FT I TURN ON ENG HEAT. A FEW SECONDS LATER WE STARTED GETTING MOMENTARY ECAM OF AFT/FORWARD CARGO FIRE AND FAULTS. SINCE THE ECAMS WOULD ONLY LAST A HALF A SECOND THERE WAS NOTHING TO RECALL OR SEE EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON. WE DETERMINED AFTER 7-8 INDICATIONS THAT WE SHOULD DECLARE EMER AND NOTIFY DISPATCH. WE LANDED 15 MINS LATER AND HAD FIREMAN INSPECT BOTH CARGO COMPARTMENTS; EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. WE THEN TAXIED TO GATE. WE ALSO HAD FLT ATTENDANT INSPECT FLOORING IN CABIN WHILE AIRBORNE FOR SOFTNESS OR HEAT. I INFORMED THEM OF A CABIN ADVISORY AND TALKED WITH PAX OFTEN.

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.