Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Work Refused
Human Factors; Procedure
During pushback from the gate; our tug driver inexplicably left his operating tug for an extended period of time. Neither my Captain nor myself had any idea where he was (under the aircraft perhaps?) or why he departed his operating tug. Further; no interphone communication was ever made to inform us that he was leaving his tug. Therefore; we were hooked up to an operating tug (in gear perhaps?) with no tug driver; a fully loaded aircraft and no brakes set and positioned away from our gate. A few minutes later; our tug driver reappeared and said that he left his position to check whether some late arriving baggage/parcel had been loaded onto our aircraft. The Captain sternly reminded the tug driver that safety was just compromised but the tug driver seemed more interested in critiquing the Captain for dressing him down on the interphone and seemed disinterested in discussing the safety implications of his actions. In my opinion; the tug driver did not grasp the severity of the safety lapse he was solely responsible for moments earlier. Safety was compromised when our tug driver inexplicably left his operating tug for an extended period of time after beginning our aircraft pushback from the gate. I do not believe that this tug driver grasped the potentially dire safety implications of his actions and therefore additional safety training regarding aircraft pushback procedures and standard operating procedures (SOP) regarding aircraft pushback procedures is clearly warranted in this case at this particular station.
Told tug driver; 'Parking brake released; cleared to push. Tug driver acknowledged my call and started the push. After pushing a few feet; the tug driver stopped the push. He then stood up in the tug; removed his headset and left the tug; all without communicating with me in any manner. After a brief period of probably over a minute; the tug driver returned to the tug; sat down and put his headset back on and checked in with me. I stated to the tug driver; 'Don't you EVER leave the tug with the aircraft hooked up and not communicate with me what you are doing.' The tug driver responded that we are all working hard here and he is respecting me and that I was not being respectful. I responded that this has nothing to do with respect; it has to do with safety and that he CANNOT leave the tug during mid-push.  I was completely in the dark and uninformed. There was absolutely no communication with me. Who was controlling the aircraft at that point?The tug driver again responded with the point about respect and did not even acknowledge the point that I was making.  His complete disregard of safety prevented me from allowing him to continue being in control of my aircraft during the pushback. I then informed the tug driver that I was setting the parking brake and that if he could not follow direction I would get someone who could and that I wanted a new driver for the tug. The tug driver told me he was the crew chief and that he was the only driver available. I told him that I was calling operations on the radio and requesting a new driver. The tug driver said fine; he was going inside.I called Operations on the radio and reported the issue and requested that a different tug driver be tasked with completing the pushback.  Almost immediately; another tug driver was on the tug and checked in with me. I briefly explained to him the incident. The new tug driver said he heard about my situation and that they would talk to the previous tug driver.We completed the pushback and departed.  This calls into question how contract ramp personnel are trained--particularly crew chiefs and tug drivers--their experience level; situational awareness and safety priorities. Safety is the number one priority. I really do not think the tug driver understood the seriousness of the situation and his responsibility while in control of an aircraft that he is pushing.
During pushback of an air carrier aircraft the tug driver; without explanation; stopped the movement and exited the vehicle. When the tug driver returned; he was reportedly unaware of the safety implications involved with his actions. The Captain set the brakes and requested a new tug driver.