Narrative:

Leaving atl we had a single pack operation with the right pack inoperative. The ACARS had been written up previously as not recording or sending out; off; on; and in times; but checked ok. We had problems downloading flight plan; winds; clearances; etc; but after a few attempts most would load with a few manual assists and we just chalked it up to gate proximity and reception problems.we set up to depart on the south set of runways. Push clearance gave us the north set. During the push we changed runways in the FMC; and started the engines. ACARS would not load all the data properly and again some manual help was needed. Ramp now says atl is now going to split the airport to a north and south operation and wanted us to do a 180 degree turn to the south runways. We are not allowed to turn on the ramp and are instructed to contact ground to taxi off the ramp to the north; turn around on taxi ways and return through the ramp to the south set of runways. Now we have to change runway data in the FMC again.as we taxied it began to rain; the temperature is 6 degrees; we don't have anti-ice data on the takeoff data message; and the close out data still hadn't come up so we were contacting both operations and dispatch to collect all the data needed due to the lack of reliability of our ACARS. Both of us were juggling radios and responsibilities and had our hands full. Once all data was received and loaded we continued with the checklists.when we got to takeoff data [we] noticed that the right pack had been turned on and running the whole time. In all; the inoperative pack was turned on maybe 25 minutes during taxi but was discovered prior to takeoff. No lights; smells or anything abnormal occurred to indicate any problems from being turned on. Take off was done with all packs; bleeds; and/or switches in the proper position for a single pack operation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Distracted by multiple runway changes; associated FMC reprogramming and an uncooperative ACARS; a B737-800 flight crew inadvertently turned on an MEL'd pack for the duration of their extended taxi. The failure was noted prior to takeoff and the aircraft configured appropriately for the subsequent takeoff and flight.

Narrative: Leaving ATL we had a single pack operation with the right pack inoperative. The ACARS had been written up previously as not recording or sending out; off; on; and in times; but checked ok. We had problems downloading flight plan; winds; clearances; etc; but after a few attempts most would load with a few manual assists and we just chalked it up to gate proximity and reception problems.We set up to depart on the South set of runways. Push clearance gave us the North set. During the push we changed runways in the FMC; and started the engines. ACARS would not load all the data properly and again some manual help was needed. Ramp now says ATL is now going to split the airport to a North and South operation and wanted us to do a 180 degree turn to the South runways. We are not allowed to turn on the ramp and are instructed to contact Ground to taxi off the ramp to the north; turn around on taxi ways and return through the ramp to the South set of runways. Now we have to change runway data in the FMC again.As we taxied it began to rain; the temperature is 6 degrees; we don't have anti-ice data on the takeoff data message; and the close out data still hadn't come up so we were contacting both Operations and Dispatch to collect all the data needed due to the lack of reliability of our ACARS. Both of us were juggling radios and responsibilities and had our hands full. Once all data was received and loaded we continued with the checklists.When we got to takeoff data [we] noticed that the right pack had been turned on and running the whole time. In all; the inoperative pack was turned on maybe 25 minutes during taxi but was discovered prior to takeoff. No lights; smells or anything abnormal occurred to indicate any problems from being turned on. Take off was done with all packs; bleeds; and/or switches in the proper position for a single pack operation.

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.