Narrative:

We pushed back; started engines; and received the 'salute and release from guidance.' I called for taxi clearance; and when received; I said clear left; looked left; then looked right as my first officer looked right and we both noticed the tug vehicle very close to the right wing facing the same direction as the airplane. I asked the first officer if the tug was under the wing or was outside it. She said she thought it was outside; just barely; and I believed that to be correct as we had received the salute and release. In the 5-10 seconds that we spent briefly discussing the tug clearance; he; and I still can't believe this; began to do a 180 degree turn; into the aircraft; turning left and going under the wing. It is my certain opinion that if I had begun to taxi as the normal time sequence would dictate; I would have probably struck the tug with the right outboard engine. It was only the 5-10 second delay we took discussing the tug clearance that probably prevented a possible serious injury to the tug driver and damage to the aircraft. I believe that the tug crews need constant review on the serious nature of safety compliance. They tend to get very motivated to do a good job but I believe they lose sight of safety first. They need to be repeatedly briefed that a 'salute and release' means that all personnel and vehicles are clear of the aircraft and will remain clear. No exceptions. If a vehicle is not clear then they cannot give the salute and release.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747-400 HAS POTENTIAL GND ENCOUNTER WITH PUSH BACK TUG AFTER RECEIVING SALUTE.

Narrative: WE PUSHED BACK; STARTED ENGS; AND RECEIVED THE 'SALUTE AND RELEASE FROM GUIDANCE.' I CALLED FOR TAXI CLRNC; AND WHEN RECEIVED; I SAID CLR L; LOOKED L; THEN LOOKED R AS MY FO LOOKED R AND WE BOTH NOTICED THE TUG VEHICLE VERY CLOSE TO THE R WING FACING THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE AIRPLANE. I ASKED THE FO IF THE TUG WAS UNDER THE WING OR WAS OUTSIDE IT. SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT IT WAS OUTSIDE; JUST BARELY; AND I BELIEVED THAT TO BE CORRECT AS WE HAD RECEIVED THE SALUTE AND RELEASE. IN THE 5-10 SECONDS THAT WE SPENT BRIEFLY DISCUSSING THE TUG CLRNC; HE; AND I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THIS; BEGAN TO DO A 180 DEG TURN; INTO THE ACFT; TURNING L AND GOING UNDER THE WING. IT IS MY CERTAIN OPINION THAT IF I HAD BEGUN TO TAXI AS THE NORMAL TIME SEQUENCE WOULD DICTATE; I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY STRUCK THE TUG WITH THE R OUTBOARD ENG. IT WAS ONLY THE 5-10 SECOND DELAY WE TOOK DISCUSSING THE TUG CLRNC THAT PROBABLY PREVENTED A POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE TUG DRIVER AND DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. I BELIEVE THAT THE TUG CREWS NEED CONSTANT REVIEW ON THE SERIOUS NATURE OF SAFETY COMPLIANCE. THEY TEND TO GET VERY MOTIVATED TO DO A GOOD JOB BUT I BELIEVE THEY LOSE SIGHT OF SAFETY FIRST. THEY NEED TO BE REPEATEDLY BRIEFED THAT A 'SALUTE AND RELEASE' MEANS THAT ALL PERSONNEL AND VEHICLES ARE CLR OF THE ACFT AND WILL REMAIN CLR. NO EXCEPTIONS. IF A VEHICLE IS NOT CLR THEN THEY CANNOT GIVE THE SALUTE AND RELEASE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.