Date: 201908
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Dusk
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
ATC / advisory: Ground ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate
Result: General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Staffing; Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Staffing

Narrative: Upon arriving at the gate for flight on Aircraft X; the crew wrote up 'FLY CNTRL NO DISPATCH' message. This issue has written up several times recently in the log book. I was informed maintenance was being flown in from ZZZ1 to fix the issue but it would take a while. Our flight to ZZZ1 was delayed until 22:00.Ground crew needed to push the aircraft out of the gate to make room for another incoming flight. I was asked to be in the flight deck for the push as none of the ground crew had been trained to be there. I talked with the duty officer about it as this was my first time being in this situation and we both agreed as long as I was comfortable; I should help with the push and treat like normal operations. The First Officer was not comfortable and did not want to be in the cockpit during the push. I felt it was unnecessary for him to be there so I did not force him to participate.When the ground crew was ready I entered the flight deck and the ground personnel closed the exterior door. The aircraft was in a soft power down state. I powered it up per the [manual]; started the APU; and the aircraft was then disconnected from ground power. I contacted ZZZ ground control to let them know our intentions. We followed normal procedures (walk around complete; got disconnected; brakes released; green light verification). We then pushed from gate to an area without incident. Upon completion of the push; I followed the shutdown checklist.  The ground personnel pushed the stairs up to the aircraft and opened the cabin door. I was given a ride back to gate by a ramp personnel.While in the aircraft; the duty officer contacted me. I told him the First Officer did not want to be in the flight deck. He indicated it would been better for him to be there to be closer to normal pushback operations. I let him know that the FO (First Officer) wasn't comfortable and that I felt comfortable doing it without him.The issue with the flight controls could have been fixed prior to the flight to ZZZ. I flew this aircraft on [date; 2 days prior] and saw that problem had been written up multiple times. I also wrote the issue up that day when we landed in ZZZ1.Have ground personnel trained to tow the aircraft in the out stations. The ramp personnel who pushed said he was trained in [smaller turboprops] but not the jet.




Synopsis: Captain reported that the First Officer did not want to be on the flight deck during pushback and tow operations so Captain performed duties solo.