Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Procedure; Human Factors
After pushing back from [the] gate and completing the engine 1 start; the ground crew disconnected and left the aircraft. After completing the flight controls check I tried to engage the nosewheel steering and it did not engage. We call the rampers back out to the plane to engage the nosewheel switch in the communications panel. After they came out and flipped the switch; I could still not engage the nosewheel steering. We signaled for the ramper to go get a headset and he departed. After conducting some checks we realized that the hydraulic 2 pump had depressurization since it had been more than 6 minutes. I reset the parking brake and the hydraulic 2 re-pressurized. I then engaged nose wheel steering and it worked properly. We made a scan of the area; did not see anyone near so I disengaged the parking brake and as I advanced forward a ramper came out from under the nose and I felt pressure on the wheel. It was at this time we realized that the ground crew had returned with a tug but never made contact with us; nor was a ramper visual from the cockpit to know. I was able to make communication with the ramper and after making sure everyone was safe; we cleared the aircraft and proceeded to taxi. No visuals with any ramp crew. Whenever a ramp crew member is under the nose an additional crew member should be visible at all times to make the crew aware.
We got pushed back from [the] gate. After pushing back and disconnecting interphone; the ramp crew failed to activate nosewheel steering. We called ops over radio; and we saw the Crew Chief approach the plane and go under the nose. The Crew Chief signaled if we were okay; and I shook my head and pointed at my headset to re-establish communication. The Crew Chief walked away; and then approached the plane again. By this time; our nosewheel steering was engaged and we had called and started to taxi. I gave the ramp person the thumbs up; and we started moving. He pointed out to stop immediately by crossing his arms; and we did. Only at this time we realized the ground crew had reconnected the tug; and were under the nose. We had no one make eye contact with us during this time; they did all this without our knowledge. Ground crew approached the plane and connected their equipment without verifying with flight deck crew that they were doing so. Everyone was below the nose so we had no eye contact with anyone. We only saw one ramp person approach the plane; and to our knowledge he was only there to flip the switch they forgot to flip. We did not ask for a tug; or additional personnel. Retrain ground crews to understand the visibility restrictions from the cockpit. Make sure if there are personnel working below the nose that a ground crew member always has direct eye contact with a flight deck crew member. Never give thumbs up signals when people have equipment connected to the airplane.
Air carrier flight crew reported mis-communication issues with ramp crew during pushback.