MD-83
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Lack of compliance with proper door closing procedure and compliance with crew requests creates disconcerting and unsafe condition for passenger and crew. Gate Agent created unsafe situation for passengers and crew. She didn't care to ask if the crew was ready. Before the captain was ready; she (not with the captain's and flight attendant's signal) closed the door and quickly positioned the jetbridge against the door which prevented us from reopening the door. When the flight attendant told her the captain was not ready; she would not free the door from the jetbridge so we could open it. Instead she debated and argued that we had what we needed and were ready. When I removed myself from the flight deck to see why the flight attendant could not get the door open; I found that the door was blocked by the jetbridge. After asking the agent to move the jetbridge to allow us to open the door; I received a volley of insubordinate statements that we were ready because we had our fuel and paperwork. She asked what else we needed but didn't really care to listen to my answers. However; the bottom line was there should have never been any questioning or debate about reopening the door. When the jetbridge was finally opened and the door was opened; I tried to find out why the door was closed before I told the flight attendant and explain the door is only closed when the crew/captain is ready. I also tried to explain why we needed the door open. There was zero interest in listening to me or working with me as she turned and bolted up the jetbridge.A plain clothed agent was assisting and remained to assist with our eventual departure.Background on why this flight was not ready and why the captain was not ready for the door closure: Our flight plan was lacking the approximately 17;000 to 20;000 pounds of payload and fuel to commence and complete our flight. For some reason loads had not inputted our passengers and cargo into the system so I had a system that was way out of weight and balance parameters which also created drastic fuel and flight plan errors. I was in the middle of communications with dispatch and loads when I reminded the flight attendant we were not ready. Because of the this non-compliant and insubordinate agent (in both procedures and with crew requests); I was unnecessarily interrupted from very important PIC duties which added to the frustration and a more timely departure.Yes; [the station] did a great job getting us parked; fueled; and my paperwork (although it was in serious error). However; because of the agents only interest in turning our aircraft in minimal time; she was completely indifferent to the responsibilities; requirements and duties of the crew. This focus on a quick turn; indifference to the big picture; and non-compliance with procedure and crew requests put the passengers and crew in danger.My experience over the last few months has been that [some] stations lack the proper understanding of the door closing procedures and coordination with the crews.
MD-83 Captain reported the gate agent closed the aircraft door before the flight crew was ready for release.