Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Our initial contact with pushback crew had working headsets. After I said in intercom: 'cockpit to ramp' he replied 'Yea'; then I asked: 'is your walk-around complete; all doors secure?' And he responded 'Yea'; I should have realized that this particular ramp agent was insufficiently trained. We pushed from [gate]; and after stopping for about five seconds I asked 'would you like the parking brake?' No answer; I applied toe brakes because I suspected they were finished pushing and again asked 'do you want the parking brake?' At this time I saw the second ramp agent come from underneath the nose to show me the strap. The tug driver then responded 'yea; brakes set'. A bit upset because of the ramp agent's cavalier attitude towards safety; I replied with our proper response of 'parking brake PARK' then I added 'am I to understand you disconnected the strap with the parking brake off?' The tug driver's response to me was 'I decided to use hand signals; the camera will show that' I replied back: ' I never confirmed your hand signal- don't know if the camera on the top of the terminal will show that....the camera will NOT show that from my cockpit position I cannot see you; and once two-way communication is established; then that is the method in which we expect to communicate'. I was then told 'you have a bad attitude; man'. Pushing without proper use of headsets; as I have just illustrated; is a safety hazard. To have working headsets without the proper training/phraseology by ramp is insufficient. Not every ramp agent is this apathetic and lazy about safety. I pay particular attention because of my past experience.
CRJ-900 Captain reported the ground push back crew deviated from proper procedures and terminology during the push back maneuver.