Narrative:

On pushback; the person on the pushback headset/tug had extremely poor english language skills. I had to request I had to request he repeat himself multiple times to gain understanding. His terminology was also incorrect with established written procedures and verbiage. For example: 1) 'engine one cleared to takeoff.' 2) for the 'set brakes' verbiage; he instead said; 'ok.' after I prompted him again about setting the brakes; he responded again; 'ok.' this lack of communication skills; knowledge of established verbiage and procedures could result in aircrew confusion and lead to a possible safety issue.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 PLT AT SJC EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUSHBACK CREW BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE ACCENT AND NON STANDARD TERMINOLOGY.

Narrative: ON PUSHBACK; THE PERSON ON THE PUSHBACK HEADSET/TUG HAD EXTREMELY POOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS. I HAD TO REQUEST I HAD TO REQUEST HE REPEAT HIMSELF MULTIPLE TIMES TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING. HIS TERMINOLOGY WAS ALSO INCORRECT WITH ESTABLISHED WRITTEN PROCS AND VERBIAGE. FOR EXAMPLE: 1) 'ENG ONE CLRED TO TKOF.' 2) FOR THE 'SET BRAKES' VERBIAGE; HE INSTEAD SAID; 'OK.' AFTER I PROMPTED HIM AGAIN ABOUT SETTING THE BRAKES; HE RESPONDED AGAIN; 'OK.' THIS LACK OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS; KNOWLEDGE OF ESTABLISHED VERBIAGE AND PROCS COULD RESULT IN AIRCREW CONFUSION AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.