Zapphod Beblebrox
Inventor of the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster
This is very real. I had it yesterday in ATL. we picked up a 319 and followed normal procedures. When we started the APU and turned on the APU air, we got the “ old sock” or “wet dog” sour smell. Two of our three FA,s we’re familiar with this problem and had encountered it before. We could smell it on the flight deck so we shut down the APU bleed, went back to gate air, and after a brief discussion with systems and maintenance, we deplaned everyone.
Maintenance found that the APU was way over serviced with oil. The crew went for a medical check. We all checked out ok for symptoms. Maintenance did an air cart start, APU on Mel, but the lead mech told me that the oil must have gotten well into the air conditioning system, the smell was still strong and present.
A note for readers, if you encounter this check your hazmat data sheets and take them with you to the medical place so that the staff knows what to look for.
Maintenance found that the APU was way over serviced with oil. The crew went for a medical check. We all checked out ok for symptoms. Maintenance did an air cart start, APU on Mel, but the lead mech told me that the oil must have gotten well into the air conditioning system, the smell was still strong and present.
A note for readers, if you encounter this check your hazmat data sheets and take them with you to the medical place so that the staff knows what to look for.