Narrative:

On pushback from gate; marshaller gave salute and release signal prior to acknowledgement from cockpit. During engine start; 787 aircraft has an electrical load shed feature that renders external lights (nose wheel light) inoperative until engine start is complete and generators are online. Engine start sequence takes approximately two minutes from clearance to start until full electrical power (and external lighting) is available. This differs from other [company] aircraft and requires considerable more time for the salute and release; especially if start clearance is delayed by other factors such as wet ramp; etc. Without cockpit acknowledgement of the marshaller at attention; there is no guarantee that the cockpit is looking at the marshaller during the salute and release.event occurred a second time on pushback from [another airport]. Due to wet ramp restrictions; start was delayed until the pushback was complete. Again; the marshaller gave the salute and release and walked away prior to acknowledgement by the cockpit and before the start sequence was complete.in both events; I directed my [relief first officer] international relief officer to call operations and ask that they relay to the ramp supervisor information about the improper procedures in order to get timely information to the ramp personnel. As a follow up; ramp personnel need to be trained to expect a delayed cockpit acknowledgement from the 787 due to the electrical limitations of the lighting system.absent consistent salute and release protocol; we risk injury to ramp personnel and aircraft damage.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Boeing 787 Captain reported that on pushback the Marshaller gave salute and release signal prior to acknowledgment from cockpit.

Narrative: On pushback from Gate; Marshaller gave salute and release signal prior to acknowledgement from cockpit. During engine start; 787 aircraft has an electrical load shed feature that renders external lights (nose wheel light) inoperative until engine start is complete and generators are online. Engine start sequence takes approximately two minutes from clearance to start until full electrical power (and external lighting) is available. This differs from other [company] aircraft and requires considerable more time for the salute and release; especially if start clearance is delayed by other factors such as wet ramp; etc. Without cockpit acknowledgement of the marshaller at attention; there is no guarantee that the cockpit is looking at the marshaller during the salute and release.Event occurred a second time on pushback from [another airport]. Due to wet ramp restrictions; start was delayed until the pushback was complete. Again; the Marshaller gave the salute and release and walked away prior to acknowledgement by the cockpit and before the start sequence was complete.In both events; I directed my [Relief First Officer] IRO to call operations and ask that they relay to the ramp supervisor information about the improper procedures in order to get timely information to the ramp personnel. As a follow up; ramp personnel need to be trained to expect a delayed cockpit acknowledgement from the 787 due to the electrical limitations of the lighting system.Absent consistent salute and release protocol; we risk injury to ramp personnel and aircraft damage.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.