A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Equipment / Tooling
After the push back we noticed that [the ramp crew] used a baggage cart tug to push the aircraft instead of a normal aircraft tug. The tug they used isn't designed or approved for pushing an aircraft that weight around 160;000 pounds. There are serious safety concerns and potential damage to the aircraft with their action. They never communicated their intention and the reason why they used the baggage cart tug instead of normal aircraft tug.Our stations staffs are poorly trained. Company has done a poor job maintaining quality control of the contract staffs. These problems can be solved by adequately training contract staffs.
A320 Captain reported that the ground crew used a baggage cart to push out the aircraft instead of a proper tug. He expressed concern about using this equipment and the lack of training for ground crews throughout the system.