During pushback, if the ground crew says their headset is inoperative and signals start #1, you should:

During pushback, if the ground crew says their headset is inoperative and signals start #1, you should:

• A. Delay the start until pushback complete
• B. Start immediately
• C. Abort the pushback
• D. Continue if safe

Answer: (A)

During pushback, clear and reliable communication with ground personnel is essential for safety. If the ground crew says their headset is inoperative, you cannot count on their start signal. Proceeding with the engine start while pushback is ongoing risks striking the tug, equipment, or personnel if the signal is missed or misinterpreted. The safest course is to delay the engine start until pushback is finished and you can confirm the start order through an alternate, reliable means or after you're out of the pushback phase and all ground operations are clear. This keeps coordination intact and prevents timing errors that could lead to an incident.

During pushback, clear and reliable communication with ground personnel is essential for safety. If the ground crew says their headset is inoperative, you cannot count on their start signal. Proceeding with the engine start while pushback is ongoing risks striking the tug, equipment, or personnel if the signal is missed or misinterpreted. The safest course is to delay the engine start until pushback is finished and you can confirm the start order through an alternate, reliable means or after you're out of the pushback phase and all ground operations are clear. This keeps coordination intact and prevents timing errors that could lead to an incident.