B757 captain reports difficulties with 'push back at your discretion' clearance at den.

Attributes
ACN	721731
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : den.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	721731
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Company FAA
Primary Problem	Airport

Narrative:

Before pushback we received an ACARS message. As we pushed the first officer thought it would be a good idea to just make a 'courtesy' advisory call to ramp. Good thing we did! An aircraft was taxiing behind us on the 'closer' green line from west to east. Ramp quickly told us to halt the push; and we did. It was not close but it could have been! Snow banks and snow removal caused the taxiing aircraft in closer than it would have normally been I guess...? In any case; it's a bad idea to have these 'canned' messages that authority/authorized us to do things. Especially if there are other circumstances. What about low visibility operations? Ultimately it's the captain's responsibility. I've learned my lesson but others should be warned.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 CAPT RPTS DIFFICULTIES WITH 'PUSH BACK AT YOUR DISCRETION' CLRNC AT DEN.

Narrative: BEFORE PUSHBACK WE RECEIVED AN ACARS MESSAGE. AS WE PUSHED THE FO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO JUST MAKE A 'COURTESY' ADVISORY CALL TO RAMP. GOOD THING WE DID! AN ACFT WAS TAXIING BEHIND US ON THE 'CLOSER' GREEN LINE FROM W TO E. RAMP QUICKLY TOLD US TO HALT THE PUSH; AND WE DID. IT WAS NOT CLOSE BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN! SNOW BANKS AND SNOW REMOVAL CAUSED THE TAXIING ACFT IN CLOSER THAN IT WOULD HAVE NORMALLY BEEN I GUESS...? IN ANY CASE; IT'S A BAD IDEA TO HAVE THESE 'CANNED' MESSAGES THAT AUTH US TO DO THINGS. ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. WHAT ABOUT LOW VISIBILITY OPERATIONS? ULTIMATELY IT'S THE CAPT'S RESPONSIBILITY. I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON BUT OTHERS SHOULD BE WARNED.

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.