B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 139.1; Flight Crew Total 3680.03; Flight Crew Type 2512.48
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Equipment Issue
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Human Factors; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part; Procedure; Equipment / Tooling
The ground crew was struggling to use the wireless headsets. Their frustrations grew as the delay got worse and more and more ground crew members wandered over to try and help. Obviously; no one was trained properly on the use of these new headsets; so they began to pound on the side of the airplane and gesture that they wanted to use hand signals. That was a 'no' from me so they began to look for a traditional [wired] headset; which for some reason was not readily available. This delay not only led to a delay in pushback; but also a delay in final weights; a takeoff delay; increased fuel burn; etc.
Air carrier Captain reported communication problems with push crew after wireless headset failed and a traditional cord and head set were not available.