Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 4500; Flight Crew Type 40
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Procedure
Before we pushed back for start; the crew attempted to establish contact with multiple ground and apron frequencies and eventually Apron West responded. We believed we were cleared to push back and start and did so. Shortly afterwards a 'follow me' wagon arrived and we indeed followed the wagon to the holding point. On arrival at that position ATC then 'accused' us of not having had approval for push back and start. We informed them that we had been given clearance and were then told to contact Tower to confirm our departure clearance. This was completed and we eventually taxied. During the taxi out we were then told that we should have contacted Clearance Delivery for our clearance. We had used the DL (Departure Clearance Services) and received and had our clearance accepted. We were confused by the inference from ATC that we had not operated in accordance with known procedures especially at a time of night when there was minimal traffic. ATIS stated that we should accept our clearance via DL and also there was no information regarding frequencies which were not monitored during the quiet periods.
[Second narrative contained no further information.]
B767 flight crew reported receiving data link clearance and started pushback and was told they needed to confirm clearance with Delivery.