Date: 201706
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: VHHH.Airport, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Widebody; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Ferry / Re-Positioning
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ramp VHHH
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Taxi
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I will start off with my recommendation; that VHHH 10-7 pages include a statement that pushback crews; particularly at the maintenance hardstands; may not check in with the flight deck; and may simply await a call from the flight deck no matter what. I sense that this may be partly a cultural thing; and partly that the maintenance folks in VHHH handle probably dozens of different airline crews. I already know to expect irregularities in non-mainline operations such as this maintenance ferry; but what happened with us at the release from guidance point in VHHH was potentially VERY serious. First off; after stairs were pulled; and all doors closed; I asked if anyone was on headset. No response. The maintenance guy sat over in his truck as if he; too were waiting for a push crew. After waiting for over 10 minutes; I finally keyed my mike and asked again; and this time got a response! No telling how long they had been on headset. During push we were cleared to start engines.As soon as we came to a stop from the push; I was asked if they could disconnect the tow bar (nonstandard). I said yes; disconnect tow bar. We started the engines; and I observed the towbar/tractor drive off to the left and stop; along with second individual on foot (no salute or all clear signal). Since I didn't hear a 'towbar disconnected' or anything else for that matter; I assumed that they were probably unfamiliar with our procedures. However; I wanted to make sure we were clear to taxi. Assuming that no-one was left at the nose gear; I flashed both my taxi light and my left turnoff light many; many times in order to get the attention of the tractor or the other individual; now standing there talking on his cellphone. When finally I did get his attention; I waved to him in a questioning manner and gave him a thumbs up. He emphatically gave me a thumbs up back! We pilots were 99% convinced that we were clear to taxi; but to cover that 1% I luckily keyed my mike and asked if anyone was below. Surprisingly; in broken English I got an answer! I subsequently cleared him off headset (two individuals walked out) and got a wave goodbye from them. I am still mystified that even with the flashing of my lights; no one called up to us; or anything. And with the thumbs up I received; I came very close to taxiing with someone still down there.




Synopsis: Air carrier Captain reported nonstandard pushback procedures at VHHH including being given a thumbs up by a ground crew member even though there was another crew member still on the headset.