Hello

I'm a bit surprised that these posts do not relate a more (and I mean "a lot more") formal push back
procedure with the airlines you refer to.

In all the airlines I've worked with it goes like this :

(The aircraft is ready with doors closed and pax on board )

"Cockpit to ground (...)confirm the aircraft is clear,the doors are closed,the handles in the detent,the
tow-bar is connected and the nose gear safety by-pass pin is in ?"

(...The ground engineer acknowledges every item and then :"we are ready for push back"

"Cockpit to ground (...) The parking brake is released ,we are clear to push back facing north (or
whatever proc applies on this particuliar aaaaa/p).

...

"Cockpit to ground,advise when ready to start engines,Start sequence is 2,1"

"Ground to cockpit,you may start engine #2"

"Starting #2"

"We have ignition on #2"

"........"

"Ground to copkpit,push back complete,set the brakes"

"Parking brake set,you may disconnect the tow-bar"

...

"Ground,we have two good starts ;you are clear to disconnect;signal on the left side please with the
pins."

"Have a good flight"

"Thanks for your help"..

That kind of formality is quite necessary in order to differentiate the ground to cockpit intercom
from the atc chatter we have to monitor.

Hope it brought another point of view.

Cheers
Normal Procedure is as follows, taken from CVR transcript training program

CA1 : Flight deck to ground

ENG : Go ahead

CA1 : ATC clearance for push and start, please confirm all ground equipment and services clear

ENG : Ground Equipment and Jetty clear, doors closed and stearing pin in position, awaiting your
instructions

CA1 : Push back please

ENG : Set park brake to release please

CA1 : Park brake is off, clear to push

Engineer and Captain prior to this point would have discussed engine start procedures and
restrictions, normally push is completed prior to engine start dependant on airport regulations, for
this flight we started from stand H05 at Heathrow with wet conditions

ENG : Push back starting, confirming negative engine start until push back complete

CA1 : Roger negative engine start, advisory all aircraft doors are now armed for flight

ENG : Push back complete, please set park brake to on

CA1 : Park brake is set, starting Nbr 1

ENG : Roger, number one N1 starting,

Engineer would now watch without distraction the start sequence of the aircraft, monitoring
exhaust states and efflux (A hot start or excesss oil burn is rather startling for an engineer, smoke
albeit smelly but harmless, is rather alarning to all)

CA1 : Good start both engines, all systems nominal, thank you for the push, all clear signal to the
right please.

ENG : Roger good starts, nose steering pin removed and all clear signal to the right, have a good
flight.

CA1 : Good Day

All clear signal is given by ground engineers by raising the steering bypass pin in the air, clearing
showing the flight deck the pin and warning flag in hand. Flights have been delayed due this last
omission by G/E. A flight cannot steer with the pin in place, turns into a rather embarressing short
but straight taxi.

Please do not hesitate to contact me again for any flight details as we regularily use this site for
forums.