Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 21; Flight Crew Type 16000
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors
Prior to push; I briefed First Officer (FO) 'we will push from the gate take taxiway [A] to Runway 1L (anticipated runway for departure)'. I briefed NAV setup and VHF setup. However; did not brief specific pushback procedures from Gate. I heard FO call ATC and say 'do we need [a] push clearance from this gate?' They said no. (I queried this because I only heard one side of communication; because I was not wearing headset.)  I was kind of shocked because then I looked at 10-7; it says push call YES. So I said ok; no push call. As we pushed back WITHOUT a clearance; Push Crew said; 'are we clear on to taxiway?' I said let me ask. FO asked Ground; Ground said; 'You are pushing without a clearance! Don't do that; you need to call me first.' No traffic was around we did not block anyone; however; we had no push clearance. Both FO and I had not been to SFO in long time. This was definitely a contributing factor.
We pushed back from the Gate without clearance from Ground Control. I called Ramp for a push clearance and was told we did not need to contact them for a push clearance. I (we) took this for we were cleared to push. As we were pushing back; the Tug Driver asked if we were cleared onto A. I called Ground stating that we were pushing from the gate and needed clearance onto A. Ground stated to us that we were not supposed to start the push without clearance from them. We stopped the push and waited for further clearance.
An air carrier flight crew who were unfamiliar with ramp pushback procedures at SFO; pushed back without clearance from Ground Control. The First Officer had asked ramp control if clearance was needed for pushback and was told 'no'. They confused what the Ramp Controller had said and pushed back without calling ground for clearance.