MD80 first officer reports 'lead' contract ground crew person was not aware of company aircraft salu...

Attributes
ACN	692334
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback ground : parked
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	692334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

We pushed late due to aircraft swap/maintenance delay. During engine start; the ramp crew abandoned the aircraft without a wave-off or displaying the nose gear pin. We contacted seattle operations to have them return (specified needed wave-off and pin). Team lead proceeded to a point 50 yards in front of nose; without pin; and tried to wave us off. Captain waved him over to his window and tried to communicate that we needed to see the pin; but the lead didn't understand and left again. Contacted seattle operations again to ask them to pass the requirement to the rampers. Operations informed us that 'the lead is new and doesn't fully understand the procedure' and said they would call him again. After several more mins; the entire team returned with the pin attached to the cart. Entire evolution took approximately 15 mins. My main question is this: what procedures does the contractor have in place for training their so-called leads? It's inexcusable that a lead 'doesn't fully understand the procedures.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FO RPTS 'LEAD' CONTRACT GND CREW PERSON WAS NOT AWARE OF COMPANY ACFT SALUTE PROCS. REQUIRED 15 MINS AND MULTIPLE RADIO CALLS TO RECEIVE PROPER SALUTE.

Narrative: WE PUSHED LATE DUE TO ACFT SWAP/MAINT DELAY. DURING ENG START; THE RAMP CREW ABANDONED THE ACFT WITHOUT A WAVE-OFF OR DISPLAYING THE NOSE GEAR PIN. WE CONTACTED SEATTLE OPS TO HAVE THEM RETURN (SPECIFIED NEEDED WAVE-OFF AND PIN). TEAM LEAD PROCEEDED TO A POINT 50 YARDS IN FRONT OF NOSE; WITHOUT PIN; AND TRIED TO WAVE US OFF. CAPT WAVED HIM OVER TO HIS WINDOW AND TRIED TO COMMUNICATE THAT WE NEEDED TO SEE THE PIN; BUT THE LEAD DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND LEFT AGAIN. CONTACTED SEATTLE OPS AGAIN TO ASK THEM TO PASS THE REQUIREMENT TO THE RAMPERS. OPS INFORMED US THAT 'THE LEAD IS NEW AND DOESN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE PROC' AND SAID THEY WOULD CALL HIM AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL MORE MINS; THE ENTIRE TEAM RETURNED WITH THE PIN ATTACHED TO THE CART. ENTIRE EVOLUTION TOOK APPROX 15 MINS. MY MAIN QUESTION IS THIS: WHAT PROCS DOES THE CONTRACTOR HAVE IN PLACE FOR TRAINING THEIR SO-CALLED LEADS? IT'S INEXCUSABLE THAT A LEAD 'DOESN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCS.'

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.

MD80 first officer reports 'lead' contract ground crew person was not aware of company aircraft salute procedures. Required 15 mins and multiple radio calls to receive proper salute.