Date: 201512
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ORD.Airport, IL
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Medium Transport
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Pre-flight
Contributing factors: Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: In this report are two incidents occurring on the same day; at the same airport; and involving the same ramp operations department. Although it was and is a company issue; I feel that it is potentially a very dangerous policy being exemplified by ramp personnel; and unfortunately pilots are aiding and abetting the risky behavior. The two incidents are as follows:This incident also includes a follow-up regarding a similar situation on the same day. The captain was in the flight deck preparing for the flight. The ramp lead and tug operator; came to the flight deck wanting to know where the first officer was. I asked him what the concern was; and he exclaimed that he really wanted to get the flight out early and if I could go get the first officer. I said he would be there shortly. A ramp agent gave the hand signal for release the brakes from a standing position in front of the jetway without a headset on; and I nodded my head. He shrugged his shoulders and lip synced; 'what the @!$$ are you doing?' I signaled for him to put his headset on; and he made another rude body gesture towards me. He then got the ramp lead to talk over the headset with me. I explained that I would release the brakes when he was on the tug with headsets on and our Before Start/Pushback Checklist was complete. I expressed my displeasure at the gesture and body language and asked that I not involve a supervisor in this incident. He further explained that 'he is a wierdo and not to worry about it.' I feel that not only is this behavior unprofessional and rude; but it is dangerous to push pilots to release their brakes early so that an early 'out' can be generated. Serious and fatal accidents have happened when pilots release brakes without ground personnel being in position on the tug; and in contact with the flight deck. Furthermore; our customers can see this behavior from the waiting area in the gate. This does not exemplify professionalism.Similar incident earlier on the same day and in the exact same manner with different ramp personnel. The flight crew was in the flight deck finishing weight and balance calculations; while the last passengers were boarding the aircraft. A jumpseater was also getting into the flight deck jumpseat. The ramp agent and tug operator made the 'release the brakes' signal from the ramp in front of the jetway. Just like earlier in the day; he was not on the tug with headsets on communicating with the flight deck crew; but I gave a thumbs up that I understood him. He emphatically made the 'release the brakes' gesture which I did not see due to my flight deck responsibilities. The jumpseater tapped my shoulder and let me know the ramp agent was attempting to get my attention. I looked down at the ramp; and the agent was dramatically shrugging his shoulders at me. I signaled to him to put the headset on which he did. I asked if there was a problem. He exclaimed that I gave him the thumbs up 'which means the brakes are released; but you did not release them. Not good captain; not good! You know better than that!' I told him that thumbs up does not mean 'brakes are released' and that we were working weight and balance issues. The discussion escalated into an argument; and he stated; 'Do you want to talk to a supervisor? Fine!' He then stormed off the ramp to the brake area and shortly returned without a supervisor. The flight pushed off the gate two minutes early.As described in today's earlier incident; I find this attitude not only unprofessional and rude; but very dangerous as well. I do not believe these ramp agents would display this behavior with a mainline captain; neither should they with a regional jet captain.I recall two events over the past 20 years which involved fatalities occurring around aircraft crushing ground personnel and one in which an aircraft rolled into a terminal. Nonetheless; the disregard for a policy of ramp and flight deck crews being in communication with each other; adhering to strict communications rules; and being vigilant at all times is potentially disastrous. I believe the emphasis for on time and early pushback rewards in addition to punishing ramp crews for late out times is a bad policy. It has caused pilots; gate agents; and ramp agents to become fixated on being out on time or early regardless of breaking rules or ignoring safety policies.




Synopsis: Regional Jet Captain asked to release the brakes at the gate without ramp agent being on the pushback tug with the headset on.