B737-300 flight crew refuses to release brakes for pushback before they complete their checklists.

Attributes
ACN	712218
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	712218
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

This was the third flight of the day for us. The pushback driver said 'our checks complete; release the brakes.' I said we could not do that until we were done with our checklist and had received clearance to push. He said his supervisor wants the brakes off now. Again; I refused and asked for the supervisor's name. The tug driver was aware this was against SOP but stated they are always pushed to get the clock started. I told him this was unsafe. We risk punishment; injury and/or equipment damage to get his boss a bonus. I have seen this problem creeping back into our operation. On all 3 flts this day; I was asked to release the brakes prior to our checks completed and pushback clearance received. This is true on probably 75% of my flts. I am sure others see the same. This is an unsafe practice and in direct violation of the bold warning stated in our fom. We need to get the word out to the front lines; and their supervisors; that this will not be tolerated. We need to document those who are pushing their people to violate SOP to mask the underlying problems actually causing the delay.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW REFUSES TO RELEASE BRAKES FOR PUSHBACK BEFORE THEY COMPLETE THEIR CHKLISTS.

Narrative: THIS WAS THE THIRD FLT OF THE DAY FOR US. THE PUSHBACK DRIVER SAID 'OUR CHKS COMPLETE; RELEASE THE BRAKES.' I SAID WE COULD NOT DO THAT UNTIL WE WERE DONE WITH OUR CHKLIST AND HAD RECEIVED CLRNC TO PUSH. HE SAID HIS SUPVR WANTS THE BRAKES OFF NOW. AGAIN; I REFUSED AND ASKED FOR THE SUPVR'S NAME. THE TUG DRIVER WAS AWARE THIS WAS AGAINST SOP BUT STATED THEY ARE ALWAYS PUSHED TO GET THE CLOCK STARTED. I TOLD HIM THIS WAS UNSAFE. WE RISK PUNISHMENT; INJURY AND/OR EQUIP DAMAGE TO GET HIS BOSS A BONUS. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROB CREEPING BACK INTO OUR OP. ON ALL 3 FLTS THIS DAY; I WAS ASKED TO RELEASE THE BRAKES PRIOR TO OUR CHKS COMPLETED AND PUSHBACK CLRNC RECEIVED. THIS IS TRUE ON PROBABLY 75% OF MY FLTS. I AM SURE OTHERS SEE THE SAME. THIS IS AN UNSAFE PRACTICE AND IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THE BOLD WARNING STATED IN OUR FOM. WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE FRONT LINES; AND THEIR SUPVRS; THAT THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. WE NEED TO DOCUMENT THOSE WHO ARE PUSHING THEIR PEOPLE TO VIOLATE SOP TO MASK THE UNDERLYING PROBS ACTUALLY CAUSING THE DELAY.

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.