Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 186; Flight Crew Total 19600; Flight Crew Type 814
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors
On pushback from gate.  After tow-bar removal and headset disconnect; we were starting engines.  I observed the marshaller standing in front of our aircraft giving the all clear signal with arms at 45 degrees; waiting for me to flash the taxi light.  However; the tug was still directly in front of our aircraft!  We could barely see the tug if we leaned forward in our seats; it was that close to our aircraft. I tried to point and gesture at the tug in my window; trying to let the ramper know that the tug was not clear of our aircraft.  The ramper did not figure it out; and gave me a salute; and walked to the tug.  I never flashed my taxi light at him.  If we had taxied forward with the position of the tug; our aircraft would have struck the tug for sure. Before we taxied; I called Ramp Control on the radio; and informed them of this unsafe practice by our push crew. Non-SOP procedures.  Unsafe practice.  Poor training.  Frequent occurrence.
Air Carrier Flight Crew reported push back crew not following SOP.