I'm not questioning the usefulness of the ACARS system itself. The concern is for pay/management practices
surrounding use of the ACARS.
From the ASRS online database:
ACN: 756059 (1 of 1)Time / Day
Local Time Of Day : 1201 To 1800
Date : 200710
Place
Locale Reference.Airport : ZZZ.Airport
State Reference : US
Altitude.AGL.Single Value : 0
Environment
Aircraft : 1
Operator.Common Carrier : Air Carrier
Make Model Name : A319
Operating Under FAR Part : Part 121
Flight Phase.Ground : Pushback
Flight Plan : IFR
Person : 1
Affiliation.Company : Air Carrier
Function.Flight Crew : Captain
Function.Oversight : PIC
Experience.Flight Time.Last 90 Days : 260
Experience.Flight Time.Total : 12000
Experience.Flight Time.Type : 1500
ASRS Report : 756059
Events
Anomaly.Non Adherence : Company Policies
Independent Detector.Other.Flight CrewA
Resolutory Action.None Taken : Unable
Assessments
Problem Areas : Company
Primary Problem : Company
Narrative
3 OUT OF 4 PUSHBACKS CAME WITH REQUEST FROM RAMP PERSONNEL FOR BRAKE RELEASE PRIOR TO CLRNC FROM CREW. AS THE CREW IS STRICTLY ADHERING TO THE FLT MANUAL PROCS FOR PUSHBACK, THIS REQUEST IS INAPPROPRIATE AND AGAINST WHAT THE COMPANY MGRS ARE SAYING THE RAMP PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED TO DO. RAMP PERSONNEL ARE OBVIOUSLY GETTING A DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAN THE FLT CREWS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THAT GND PERSONNEL ARE RECEIVING BONUSES FOR ON-TIME DEPARTURES. AS A RESULT, COMPANY PROCEDURES ARE REPEATEDLY VIOLATED IN AN EFFORT TO GET CREDIT FOR PUSHING AN ACFT ON TIME. SINCE THIS TIME IS TRIGGERED BY PARKING BRAKE RELEASE, AN EARLY BRAKE RELEASE HAS BECOME A GOAL IN ITSELF. REPORTER STATED THAT THE GND CREW IS TO NOTIFY THE COCKPIT VIA HEADSET THAT THEIR PREDEPARTURE CHECK IS COMPLETE. THE CAPT WILL RESPOND WITH EITHER 'STANDBY,' OR IF HE HAS RECEIVED CLRNC, 'CLEARED TO PUSH, BRAKES SET.' IT IS THEN THAT GND WILL COMMUNICATE, 'ROGER, RELEASE BRAKES.' REPORTER STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE GND CREWS ARE ATTEMPTING TO COERCE FLT CREW'S TO RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE EARLY TO ACHIEVE THEIR ON-TIME GOAL.
Synopsis
A319 CAPT REPORTS THAT PUSHBACK CREWS ARE ASKING FLT CREWS FOR BRAKE RELEASE PRIOR TO PUSHBACK CLRNC AND IN VIOLATION OF COMPANY POLICY.