Narrative:

During the pushback process all was SOP until the tow tractor with attached bar drove away. We were in the process of starting engines and had received no communication from the ground crew. The first officer continued to start the remaining engines. I requested the relief pilot to call the tug frequency we had been given while I continued my attempt to reach anyone that may be on the headset as it appeared the entire ground crew had left. I communicated with the rest of the crew my concerns. After engine start we waited...extended flaps 20 and waited...did the flight control check and waited all the while trying to establish contact with the tug or at the nose which we were never able to do. The tower was unable to see anyone. After delaying departure and numerous attempts to contact the push crew or anyone else we received taxi clearance. I released the brakes at which point a man came from near the nose with headset in hand. Brakes were set and we established hand signals which basically was a thumbs up and a shrug of his shoulders and he left. The flight continued uneventfully. The previous leg was similar with the ground crew getting in the tug and backing away without a salute and release; thumbs up or any combination thereof which is what you find out the on the line as nothing appears to be standard. What happened here? Why did the tug leave one man behind? Why did he stay under the nose with no communication with engines running; flaps extending; flight controls moving?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747-400 flight crew experiences non-standard ground handling procedures during pushback and engine start at UAFM.

Narrative: During the pushback process all was SOP until the tow tractor with attached bar drove away. We were in the process of starting engines and had received no communication from the ground crew. The First Officer continued to start the remaining engines. I requested the Relief Pilot to call the tug frequency we had been given while I continued my attempt to reach anyone that may be on the headset as it appeared the entire ground crew had left. I communicated with the rest of the crew my concerns. After engine start we waited...extended flaps 20 and waited...did the flight control check and waited all the while trying to establish contact with the tug or at the nose which we were never able to do. The Tower was unable to see anyone. After delaying departure and numerous attempts to contact the push crew or anyone else we received taxi clearance. I released the brakes at which point a man came from near the nose with headset in hand. Brakes were set and we established hand signals which basically was a thumbs up and a shrug of his shoulders and he left. The flight continued uneventfully. The previous leg was similar with the ground crew getting in the tug and backing away without a salute and release; thumbs up or any combination thereof which is what you find out the on the line as nothing appears to be standard. What happened here? Why did the tug leave one man behind? Why did he stay under the nose with no communication with engines running; flaps extending; flight controls moving?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.