B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Type 21000
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
During engine start at a remote pad ground ramp agent asked me to release the aircraft's brakes. I did and told him I released brakes. I then asked him if we had tow bar hooked to aircraft. I asked him if aircraft was choked. He said no to both.I feel he had me release the brakes solely to get an on time departure. I feel this is very unsafe and should be discontinued. If we were a light aircraft we could have moved forward after both engine starts with possible injuries to personnel on the ground.
B737 Captain reported the ramp personnel told him to release the brakes even though the wheels were not chocked and tow bar was unhooked.