RPTR CAPT WAS ANXIOUS TO START ENGS AND COMMENCED AN ENG START PRIOR TO CONFIRMED CLRNC FROM THE GND CREWMAN. GND SUPVR GOT ON HEADSET AND INFORMED RPTR HE WAS IN ERROR.

Narrative

WE WERE ALL CLOSED UP WITH THE BRIDGE PULLED AND FINAL BAG LIGHT. ALL 4 GNDMEN WERE STANDING BELOW THE BRIDGE TALKING. I WAITED A FEW MINS FOR THE GUIDEMAN TO CONNECT TO THE AIRPLANE. I GOT HIS ATTN BY GIVING HIM THE ENG START HAND SIGNAL AND BY POINTING TO MY WATCH TRYING TO INDICATE WE WERE AT DEP TIME. HE LOOKED AWAY AND BACK AT ME AGAIN AS I REPEATED THE ENG START SIGNAL; NODDING MY HEAD IN THE AFFIRMATIVE IN A REQUEST FOR THE OK TO START MY L ENG. BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE; WHEN AT THE LAST MIN; THE GNDMAN WOULD BE DISCONNECTING EXTERNAL PWR OR FIND HIS HEADSET INOP; USING HAND SIGNALS WAS THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS WAY TO GET THE FLT UNDERWAY. WITH THE GNDMEN TAKING THEIR PWRBACK POS AND THE GUIDEMAN APCHING TO PLUG IN; I STARTED THE L ENG ASSUMING ALL WAS OK TO START AND; IF NOT; HE WOULD HAVE INDICATED IT TO ME. WHEN HE PLUGGED IN; HE TOLD ME HE HADN'T COMPLETED HIS WALK AROUND AND THAT HIS SUPVR WANTED ME TO SHUT DOWN MY L ENG. HIS SUPVR GOT ON THE HEADSET AND SAID THAT I SHOULDN'T START WITHOUT THE GNDMAN'S OK. I TOLD HIM I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE POLICY; BUT THOUGHT IT WAS OK WITH HIS GNDMAN TO START. I WAS ASKING IF IT WAS NECESSARY TO SHUT DOWN THE L ENG WHEN THE GUIDEMAN RETURNED. I THEN ASKED IF IT WAS OK TO START THE R ENG AND PREPARE FOR PWRBACK. HE SAID YES AND GAVE THE HEADSET BACK TO THE GNDMAN. I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ERROR.