A communication breakdown occurs between B737 captain and the pushback crew.

Attributes
ACN	716005
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle.airport
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
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
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	716005
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
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

We received push clearance from ramp and I advised tug driver we were cleared to push; brakes set. After several seconds of silence with no reply I said stop and asked him if he was still there. He responded he was and I again advised him we were cleared to push; brakes set. His reply was ok or roger and I again said stop as I was afraid he would begin the push without advising me to release the brakes. After much clarification we pushed and departed. 2 problems here; first was a possible language barrier as person in tug had a heavy accent and secondly he was not up to speed on SOP pushback language. After push I had the first officer call operations to report the problem and have them deal with it. An FAA maintenance inspector was on the jumpseat. After reaching ord he said he would follow up on this; and I told him I would talk with the chief pilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COM BREAKDOWN OCCURS BTWN B737 CAPT AND THE PUSHBACK CREW.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED PUSH CLRNC FROM RAMP AND I ADVISED TUG DRIVER WE WERE CLRED TO PUSH; BRAKES SET. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS OF SILENCE WITH NO REPLY I SAID STOP AND ASKED HIM IF HE WAS STILL THERE. HE RESPONDED HE WAS AND I AGAIN ADVISED HIM WE WERE CLRED TO PUSH; BRAKES SET. HIS REPLY WAS OK OR ROGER AND I AGAIN SAID STOP AS I WAS AFRAID HE WOULD BEGIN THE PUSH WITHOUT ADVISING ME TO RELEASE THE BRAKES. AFTER MUCH CLARIFICATION WE PUSHED AND DEPARTED. 2 PROBS HERE; FIRST WAS A POSSIBLE LANGUAGE BARRIER AS PERSON IN TUG HAD A HVY ACCENT AND SECONDLY HE WAS NOT UP TO SPD ON SOP PUSHBACK LANGUAGE. AFTER PUSH I HAD THE FO CALL OPS TO RPT THE PROB AND HAVE THEM DEAL WITH IT. AN FAA MAINT INSPECTOR WAS ON THE JUMPSEAT. AFTER REACHING ORD HE SAID HE WOULD FOLLOW UP ON THIS; AND I TOLD HIM I WOULD TALK WITH THE CHIEF PLT.

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.