Caravan 208B
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure; Staffing
Captain and I operated flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1 in a Cessna C208. We had a normal pre-flight; cockpit preparation; engine start; taxi; and takeoff. During climb out ZZZ Tower notified us that we had an object hanging from the aircraft; which we did not know. Captain elected to return to ZZZ.After we landed we returned to the gate; we did an outside visual inspection; and we realized the Ground Agent did not remove the tail stand. The Company's policy and procedures requires the Ground Agent/Marshaller to remove the tail stand immediately before engine start. Captain then contacted Operations Control and Line Maintenance to inform them of the situation. He then made an aircraft logbook entry. Mechanics inspected the aircraft; they found no damage; they signed off the logbook; and the aircraft was returned to service.[Company]'s operating manual currently does not provide a procedure for the cockpit crew to verify whether or not the tail stand has been removed during operations involving gate agents. Therefore; I recommend one of two procedures be incorporated. We should have either two-way headset or hand signal communication between the Captain and the Ground Agent. This communication should inform the pilots the tail stand has been removed after the entry door is closed prior to engine start. Or; after the passengers and cargo are loaded; and the aircraft is ready for engine start; the Captain or his/her designee must exit the aircraft; inspect the tail section; and ensure the tail stand is removed.Under current [Company] procedure there is no way for the pilots to know whether or not the gate agent has removed the tail stand. Therefore; my recommendation will preclude this type of an event from happening in the future; it will reduce the risk of 'Things Falling Off Of Aircraft;' and improve safety.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
C208 flight crew reported that ground handlers failed to remove tail stand from aircraft; resulting in an air turnback.