Commercial Fixed Wing
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
I was in the pushback for [the] flight. We were early. I had the headset on; and could hear the pilots. All of a sudden; the plane rocked back an inch or two; jolting the pushback tractor. Luckily the jet bridge was pulled; the chocks were pulled; and our pushback was hooked up. I could hear the pilot instructing/teaching the first officer about the maneuver he just pulled. Something about him putting his foot on a pedal. After establishing contact with the flight deck; I challenged him on what he just did.Dialogue:ME: 'Are you guys doing some training up there?'Captain: 'Haha; yeah; why do you ask?'ME: 'Because you released the brakes without permission.'Captain: 'Oh; but I kept my foot on the pedal while I did it.'ME: 'Sure; then why did the plane rock back and inch or two? You guys are supposed to ask for permission otherwise I risk losing a finger pulling the chocks.'Captain: 'Ok boss.'Seeing as this Captain was conducting training on this flight; as well as breaking protocol in an unsafe manner; I feel this issue needs to be addressed. This type of behavior has been happening for a long time; and it certainly doesn't need to be perpetuated into the future. On time is great; getting pilots paid is great; but jeopardizing the safety of others and the safety of the aircraft is not.
Driver of a pushback tractor reported the Captain deviated from SOP when he released the brakes without coordination with ground personnel.