B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 166; Flight Crew Total 10403; Flight Crew Type 9306
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I have been observing this becoming a dangerous growing trend amongst our ramp/pushback crews. After pushback the brakes are set and I have verbally cleared the headset operator to disconnect headset the marshaller gave me hand signals indicating that I was clear to taxi. This occurred well before the pushback vehicle and personel had cleared the area. In this case the pushback vehicle and personel were not visible to me as they were still positioned under the nose of the aircraft. If I had relied solely on the marshallers hand signals indicating that I was clear to taxi and gone ahead and moved the aircraft I would have impacted the pushback vehicle and possibly the headset operator. The reason that I rely on the marshallers hand signals is for the very reason that I may not have visual contact with the pusback equipment and/or personnel. The marshallers are my eyes until the area has in fact been cleared. I have been observing this becoming a dangerous growing trend amongst our ramp and pushback crews. After pushback the brakes are set and I have verbally cleared the headset operator to disconnect headset the marshaller gave me hand signals indicating that I was clear to taxi. This occurred well before the pushback vehicle and personnel had cleared the area. In this case the pushback vehicle and personnel were not visible to me as they were still positioned under the nose of the aircraft. If I had relied solely on the marshallers hand signals indicating that I was clear to taxi and gone ahead and moved the aircraft; I would have impacted the pushback vehicle and possibly the headset operator. The reason that I rely on the marshallers hand signals is for the very reason that I may not have visual contact with the pushback equipment and/or personnel. The marshallers are my eyes until the area has in fact been cleared.
B737 Captain believes that pushback crews are becoming complacent and giving hand signals for 'all clear' before the ground crew and tug have cleared the nose wheel area.