DC9 crew departed the gate with insufficient flight attendants.

Attributes
ACN	444386
Time
Date	199907
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 50
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 6300
ASRS Report	444386
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 280 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	443990
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other other : 4
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

During the pushback from the gate the lead flight attendant inquired as to the type DC9 we were on. I stated that it was a DC9-50. She then advised me that the minimum required number of flight attendants were not on board (3). We only had 2. The pushback crew had already disconnected so I called operations and had them come out and pull us back to the gate. This problem would not happen if the air carrier would staff all DC9's with a minimum crew of 3 flight attendants, however, this air carrier chooses to only staff 2 flight attendants on the aircraft in the fleet that require 3.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9 CREW DEPARTED THE GATE WITH INSUFFICIENT FLT ATTENDANTS.

Narrative: DURING THE PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT INQUIRED AS TO THE TYPE DC9 WE WERE ON. I STATED THAT IT WAS A DC9-50. SHE THEN ADVISED ME THAT THE MINIMUM REQUIRED NUMBER OF FLT ATTENDANTS WERE NOT ON BOARD (3). WE ONLY HAD 2. THE PUSHBACK CREW HAD ALREADY DISCONNECTED SO I CALLED OPS AND HAD THEM COME OUT AND PULL US BACK TO THE GATE. THIS PROB WOULD NOT HAPPEN IF THE ACR WOULD STAFF ALL DC9'S WITH A MINIMUM CREW OF 3 FLT ATTENDANTS, HOWEVER, THIS ACR CHOOSES TO ONLY STAFF 2 FLT ATTENDANTS ON THE ACFT IN THE FLEET THAT REQUIRE 3.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.