Heavy Transport
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure; Staffing
The chocks were not removed from the aircraft prior to taxi. We were parked on a taxiway short of the active Runway at the holding point. It was night and the area was completely unlit. I took my break in a bunk and returned to flight-deck to be part of the takeoff briefing. We were disappointed to learn that our ground handling personnel had abandoned us. This happens in ZZZZ and other US military bases from time to time. This particular day was challenging for [us]. It was apparent that conflict existed within the personnel handling the aircraft. Nevertheless; it was no excuse to disregard basic start-up procedures. We considered contacting them on their ground handling frequency; but considering the extreme likelihood that they would not return to our aircraft. Intuitively; we knew that they would not further contribute to the safe departure of our aircraft. The Captain asked me what we should do and I suggested that we coordinate with the Tower to start-up. We were not aware of chocks being in place until we initiated taxi. We discovered that there might have been a chock(s) left in place when we started to move. The aircraft was empty and it was similar to starting the movement after sitting for a long period and the bottom of the tires becoming flat. Given the same circumstance in the future; I will contact the Company via SATCOM and require a supervised handling team return to the aircraft. There are some very serious supervision and security issues not just in ZZZZ; but others such as ZZZZ1 and ZZZZ2. There seems to be no accountability for who has access to our aircraft; and if they have adequate training or any legitimate purpose whatsoever. We need to ensure that people in and around our aircraft have been thoroughly vetted and trained. There are some individuals that strongly resent the United States and [the Company]. They accomplish small but malicious acts enough to delay or disrupt our operation. A thorough audit of our ground handling in places similar to these would likely uncover a disturbing trend. Although we operate in active war zones; our aircraft is still an American workplace which demands the same standards of one serving in our US domestic operations.
Heavy aircraft Captain reported that aircraft chocks were not removed prior to aircraft taxi.