A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
The tractor used to push this aircraft was one of the newer ones that picks the nose wheel off the ground and pulls it up a ramp into a carriage; I believe. The problem is the tug operator asks for a brake release in order to pull the nose wheel into the carriage. I asked her if this is the only way to attach this tug type for push. She said she knew of no other way. I specifically verified that she wouldn't move the aircraft in any other way. She said she would not. I then released brakes and stated; 'Brakes are released; hold position; not cleared for push or movement.' She rogered me.The flight manual script for pushback doesn't appear to take into account this type of tractor hook up. This hook up procedure can and sometimes does happen before the Before Push Checklist and/or the Cabin Ready. Currently; we don't release brakes until [the] Before Push Checklist complete; Flight Service Coordinator reports cabin ready; AND a push clearance is received. If we wait for all these just to attach this type of tug; I believe it will have unintended consequences. If I mistakenly violated SOP in this case; it was unintentional; and I genuinely attempted to adapt to the situation with extra safety measures in the form of questions and added specific communication.
A320 Captain expressed confusion over brake release procedures when using a new type of tug.