A B737-700 pushback crew used improper terminology and procedures during push at san.

Attributes
ACN	714566
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : san.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
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 : 7000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	714566
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

During pushback; the tug driver was not alert to captain's questions and did not use standard terminology. When I asked if cleared to start #2; the response was 'roger.' I didn't know if that meant cleared to start; or roger; she would let me know. I asked again and she said no don't start right now. Later; when we got #2 started; I asked if we were cleared to start #1; and there was no response. I asked again; no response. I waited until she stopped the aircraft and she asked me to set the parking brake. I asked again to start #1 and she said clear to start one. As I was starting #1; she disconnected the headset; and pulled the pin before I said anything else. She was actually ready to drive off before starter switch cutoff. Overall there was not clear communication between tug driver and cockpit. The only positive thing that went well was she saw traffic taxi behind us and stopped the aircraft before ground called us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 PUSHBACK CREW USED IMPROPER TERMINOLOGY AND PROCS DURING PUSH AT SAN.

Narrative: DURING PUSHBACK; THE TUG DRIVER WAS NOT ALERT TO CAPT'S QUESTIONS AND DID NOT USE STANDARD TERMINOLOGY. WHEN I ASKED IF CLRED TO START #2; THE RESPONSE WAS 'ROGER.' I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT MEANT CLRED TO START; OR ROGER; SHE WOULD LET ME KNOW. I ASKED AGAIN AND SHE SAID NO DON'T START RIGHT NOW. LATER; WHEN WE GOT #2 STARTED; I ASKED IF WE WERE CLRED TO START #1; AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I ASKED AGAIN; NO RESPONSE. I WAITED UNTIL SHE STOPPED THE ACFT AND SHE ASKED ME TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE. I ASKED AGAIN TO START #1 AND SHE SAID CLR TO START ONE. AS I WAS STARTING #1; SHE DISCONNECTED THE HEADSET; AND PULLED THE PIN BEFORE I SAID ANYTHING ELSE. SHE WAS ACTUALLY READY TO DRIVE OFF BEFORE STARTER SWITCH CUTOFF. OVERALL THERE WAS NOT CLR COM BTWN TUG DRIVER AND COCKPIT. THE ONLY POSITIVE THING THAT WENT WELL WAS SHE SAW TFC TAXI BEHIND US AND STOPPED THE ACFT BEFORE GND CALLED US.

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.