Flight Crew Last 90 Days 101
Workload; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Human Factors
After spending 15 to 20 minutes coordinating with Dispatch for an MEL and performance data computations; ATC was eager to move us off the gate. Startup flows and sequence was initiated; and one (#2) engine was started. Immediately after the Ground Crew disconnected and drove off; Ramp pushed us to Tower 'for clearance.'  First Officer switched the radio frequency and Tower quickly instructed us for an immediate taxi. Upon releasing the parking brake to begin taxi; I noticed the flaps at zero and the 'A' pumps were off. I immediately stopped the aircraft. (We moved approximately two to three feet.) I set the parking brake and the First Officer requested a short delay for taxi. We then started the #1 engine; set the flaps to 1; and completed the Before Taxi Checklist. Subsequent operations were normal.  Our delay with Dispatch to coordinate the MEL and associated communication must have pressured Aruba/Beatrix ramp to get us off the gate and Tower to get us moving. As a Crew; we were already 'in the Orange' after working to push off and get the engine started and; when switched to Tower and told to begin taxi; we fell into the trap of focusing our attention on the radios and taxi operation without first ensuring we were ready to do so. Tower was in a hurry to get us moving The procedure for giving Aircrews clearance over the already congested and busy Tower frequency in conjunction with taxi is full of pitfalls. It would be much easier if Ramp could give us our clearance and then we could briefly confirm it with Tower before taxi.  Lots of moving parts in a short duration.
Crew began taxi before completion of the engine start sequence and post-start checklist. As a result; the aircraft was not properly configured and all hydraulic systems were not turned on.  Crew faulted the urgency from Tower to move the aircraft and recommended that local procedures be changed so that flight clearances are not broadcast to crews over the busy tower frequency.