Narrative:

After initial pushback from the gate in atl (with an FAA air carrier inspector in 1 jumpseat and a pilot from one of our regional carriers in the other), we noted a 'status' message on our upper 'EICAS' display. Upon calling up the status page, there were 2 malfunctions indicated -- both regarding APU/APU battery. We pulled back into the gate, checked the MEL and called a mechanic. The MEL indicated we could continue, provided maintenance disconnected the APU battery charger, but dispatcher approval was required by MEL. I asked the captain if he wanted me to call for dispatch approval -- he said no. Several mins later, he directed me to send the dispatcher an ACARS (data) message. I did so, but we never received a reply. After the maintenance procedures were complete and logbook items completed we pushed back. I reminded the captain that we did not have dispatch approval yet. He said maintenance would ensure we had it. I knew this to be untrue (also ridiculous), so I reminded him again. A few mins later we still didn't have the approval and he shook his head -- 'ok.' I got busy and distracted on taxi-out and forgot to follow up. We received an ACARS message from the dispatcher asking for clarification before takeoff, but the message was received just as we started the takeoff roll. We responded to the message and received subsequent dispatcher approval -- well after we were airborne. I feel I did my part up until the taxi-out when I forgot to follow up. I feel the captain was remiss in even pushing off the gate without a dispatch release. He got both of us out of our regular habit patterns in doing so. After the flight, I pointed out to him that we took off without dispatch approval and he said it was no big deal!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B-777 PIC DEPARTS STATION WITHOUT NEW DISPATCH RELEASE RELATED TO THE MAINT MEL'ED APU ELECTRICAL SYS AT ATL, GA.

Narrative: AFTER INITIAL PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE IN ATL (WITH AN FAA ACR INSPECTOR IN 1 JUMPSEAT AND A PLT FROM ONE OF OUR REGIONAL CARRIERS IN THE OTHER), WE NOTED A 'STATUS' MESSAGE ON OUR UPPER 'EICAS' DISPLAY. UPON CALLING UP THE STATUS PAGE, THERE WERE 2 MALFUNCTIONS INDICATED -- BOTH REGARDING APU/APU BATTERY. WE PULLED BACK INTO THE GATE, CHKED THE MEL AND CALLED A MECH. THE MEL INDICATED WE COULD CONTINUE, PROVIDED MAINT DISCONNECTED THE APU BATTERY CHARGER, BUT DISPATCHER APPROVAL WAS REQUIRED BY MEL. I ASKED THE CAPT IF HE WANTED ME TO CALL FOR DISPATCH APPROVAL -- HE SAID NO. SEVERAL MINS LATER, HE DIRECTED ME TO SEND THE DISPATCHER AN ACARS (DATA) MESSAGE. I DID SO, BUT WE NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. AFTER THE MAINT PROCS WERE COMPLETE AND LOGBOOK ITEMS COMPLETED WE PUSHED BACK. I REMINDED THE CAPT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE DISPATCH APPROVAL YET. HE SAID MAINT WOULD ENSURE WE HAD IT. I KNEW THIS TO BE UNTRUE (ALSO RIDICULOUS), SO I REMINDED HIM AGAIN. A FEW MINS LATER WE STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE APPROVAL AND HE SHOOK HIS HEAD -- 'OK.' I GOT BUSY AND DISTRACTED ON TAXI-OUT AND FORGOT TO FOLLOW UP. WE RECEIVED AN ACARS MESSAGE FROM THE DISPATCHER ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION BEFORE TKOF, BUT THE MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED JUST AS WE STARTED THE TKOF ROLL. WE RESPONDED TO THE MESSAGE AND RECEIVED SUBSEQUENT DISPATCHER APPROVAL -- WELL AFTER WE WERE AIRBORNE. I FEEL I DID MY PART UP UNTIL THE TAXI-OUT WHEN I FORGOT TO FOLLOW UP. I FEEL THE CAPT WAS REMISS IN EVEN PUSHING OFF THE GATE WITHOUT A DISPATCH RELEASE. HE GOT BOTH OF US OUT OF OUR REGULAR HABIT PATTERNS IN DOING SO. AFTER THE FLT, I POINTED OUT TO HIM THAT WE TOOK OFF WITHOUT DISPATCH APPROVAL AND HE SAID IT WAS NO BIG DEAL!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.