B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 5575; Flight Crew Type 2907
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
Received the message via ACARS that we had a potential tail tip condition just prior to top of descent. Since we were going to ZZZZ; we contacted dispatch. After initial confusion as to topic; we were informed that ZZZZ recovery crew was alerted. They do not understand what is required. The folks working ramp told us verbally after Captain inquired via open window that they had no stand and would have to open pit and take bags out. Jet bridge crew moved the jet bridge to the aircraft; and was knocking to have door opened; whilst flight crew was answering queries from flight attendants and instructing them not to open the door. Seat belt sign on the whole time; multiple announcements from cockpit to reinforce. Cockpit never received notification from ground crew about unloading. Watched pit doors opened and waited 5-6 minutes ... figuring that the bags were coming out and that the jet bridge was laying on top of aircraft. No issues with tipping.
B737 Captain reported that ground crew were not fully trained on the special handling procedures unique to the aircraft model.