Date: 201301
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A320
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Escape Slide
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
Detector: Person Maintenance
When detected: Other Post Flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Procedure; Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Conducted a routine safe flight from ZZZ to ZZZZ on. I was contacted by Gatekeeper Representative regarding this flight. We completed our duties/checklist in accordance with company policies and procedures outlined in the FOM and had no indication of a faulty or inoperative Over-Wing Slide. The aircraft was found to have had multiple faulty/inoperative Over-Wing Emergency slides; which was discovered by Company Maintenance personnel. Again; we had no cockpit indication of these faults. The flight was completed safely with no issues.


Second narrative: Prior to push back; all normal duties were performed and all checklists were completed. I; as Captain checked the DOOR page on ECAM to review all doors 'Closed and Armed.' I noticed forward and rear Cabin Doors; closed and armed; but the Over-Wing window [Emergency Exits] did not show 'Armed.' I questioned this reading and asked the First Officer (F/O) and IRO to verify and confirm the indication; which is a no indication of 'SLIDE'.  I then called the flight attendants to confirm that the Over-Wing Exits looked normal; which they confirmed looked normal.Prior to pushback; the DOOR page on ECAM was checked and indicated that the Forward and Aft cabin doors were 'Closed and Armed;' but the over-wing windows had no indication. I questioned the F/O and IRO about the indication then called the flight attendants to check the exits; which they confirmed looked fine. After a discussion about the indication; the three pilots mistakenly surmised that since this was a new airplane maybe this is the new indication. I briefly considered calling Maintenance; but noticed the loading bridge was parked; the agent was gone and we had gotten clearance to push back. In our minds; everything was normal so I dismissed the calling of Maintenance for assistance.Even though we had been taught that the Over-Wing windows are always armed on the Airbus A320; the absence of both lights on the ECAM confused all three pilots and we mistakenly fell into a false sense of normalcy; believing this must be normal; since this is a new airplane. In all the years I have flown the airplane; we are taught that 'the Over-Wing Exits are always armed' and seeing a 'NO lights' indication on the ECAM did not sufficiently alert any of the three pilots on the flight deck.


Synopsis: Two pilots were informed they had flown their A320 aircraft over water with multiple Over-Wing Emergency Exit slides disarmed. Pilots noted there were no slide fault indications on their DOOR ECAM page.