CAPT OF A319 IS DISTR DURING COMPLETION OF PUSHBACK AND RPTS PARKING BRAKES SET WHEN HE HAD NOT; IN FACT; DONE SO.

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AT THE END OF PUSHBACK; I DID NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN CALLED FOR BY THE TUG DRIVER. EVEN THOUGH THE OMISSION WAS UNINTENTIONAL; THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. EVENTS: #1 ENG HAD REACHED IDLE ABOUT 15 SECONDS PRIOR TO THE END OF PUSHBACK. AS THE TUG DRIVER BROUGHT THE ACFT TO A STOP; HE MADE HIS SOP CALL 'SET BRAKES.' AT THE VERY SAME MOMENT; THE LOWER ECAM DISPLAYED 'NOSEWHEEL STEERING/BRAKES INOP...' ALONG WITH A SINGLE CHIME. MY HAND WENT DIRECTLY TO THE ANTISKID AND NOSEWHEEL STEERING SWITCH TO TURN IT ON AS I MOUTHED 'BRAKES SET; PRESSURE NORMAL; CLRED TO DISCONNECT.' IMMEDIATELY THE TUG DRIVER RAPIDLY STATED 'SET BRAKES; SET BRAKES. SET BRAKES.' I LOOKED DOWN AT THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE; HORRIFIED. I SET THE PARKING BRAKE. IMMEDIATELY I ASKED THE TUG DRIVER IF ANYONE WAS HURT. HE SAID NO AND CONTINUED WITH THE DISCONNECT PROC. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. PERCEPTIONS: I BELIEVE I WAS DISTR BY THE ECAM MESSAGE AND INAPPROPRIATELY SPRING-LOADED FOR BRAKE FAILURE (IE; THE TAXI WITH BRAKE LOSS PROC OF MOVING THE SWITCH AND PRESSING THE BRAKES AGAIN). OF COURSE; THIS ECAM MESSAGE IS NORMAL AND WILL GO AWAY WHEN WE TURN ON THE SWITCH AGAIN AFTER WEAVE-OFF. COMMENTS: I SCREWED UP AND COULD HAVE CAUSED; REGRETTABLY; INJURY OR DAMAGE. I'M VERY THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. I WILL SLOW DOWN AND BE MORE DELIBERATE WITH MY THINKING AND CHKING AS I MOVE LEVERS AND SWITCHES. IN THIS CASE I WILL LOOK AND SEE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER; LOOK AND CHK THE BRAKE PRESSURE AS I APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THEN I WILL RPT 'BRAKES SET; PRESSURE NORMAL; CLRED TO DISCONNECT.' THEN I WILL SIMPLY OBSERVE AND WAIT FOR THE 'CLR TO TAXI' SALUTE; DO MY BEFORE TAXI FLOW; AND CALL FOR THE CHKLIST. I KNOW THE PROCS; SO UNLESS A GREATER EMER EXISTS; I WILL STAY FOCUSED ON METHODICAL; DELIBERATE SOPA COMPLIANCE. THIS RPT IS VERY EMBARRASSING AND PAINFUL FOR ME TO MAKE; BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE HAD I INJURED SOMEONE OR DAMAGED SOMETHING. HOPEFULLY THIS INFO WILL KEEP OTHERS FROM MAKING THIS MISTAKE. IT HAS CERTAINLY HAD AN IMPACT ON ME.