A DC8 WAS DISPATCHED FROM AN ARPT AT WHICH THE CARRIER HAD CONTRACTED FOR GND SVCS. ENG START AND PUSHBACK WERE NOT ACCOMPLISHED PER ACFT OPERATING MANUAL. UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS EVENT.

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FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS ZZZ WAS CALLING FOR THE ILS RWY 23 IN USE. ACCORDING TO COMPANY POLICY WE DO NOT CARRY THE ILS TO RWY 23 IN OUR CHARTS. WHY? AS WE WERE COORDINATING TO USE RWY 5; THE WX DID CLR AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET INTO RWY 23 VISUALLY. AFTER ARR AT ZZZ; I WAS ADVISED THAT NO MAINT WAS AVAILABLE FOR START AND PUSH BY MR X (SUPPORT) BUT HE SAID THAT HE WAS QUALIFIED TO DO IT. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO ZZZ FOR AT LEAST 2 YRS AND THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE; THEY HAD CONTRACT MAINT AVAILABLE FOR THE START AND PUSH. UP UNTIL THIS NIGHT I HAVE NEVER STARTED A DC8 WITHOUT A MECH ON HEADSET. HERE IS THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS I REMEMBER THEM: I ASKED MR X IF MAINT WAS AVAILABLE. HE SAID 'NO;' BUT HE IS QUALIFIED TO START PUSH AIRPLANES. I SAID GREAT BUT MY AOM STATES 'MECH' IN THE START-UP PROCS. I ASKED; 'DO YOU HAVE A DOCUMENT OR REF THAT THE FAA APPROVES YOU (A NON MECH) TO DO THE START PROCS?' HE SAID 'NO' BUT HE WENT THROUGH TRAINING. SO I ASKED FOR A RIDE IN TO CALL THE CHIEF PLT. HE SAID WE DO IT ALL THE TIME WITH CONTRACT MAINT. I ASKED IF HE HAD THE REF OR DOCUMENT THAT THE FAA APPROVES THIS PROC. TO PARAPHRASE; HE SAID NOT ON HIM BUT HE WOULD GET IT FOR ME. I SAID 'GREAT. I DON'T WANT TO HOLD THE FLT UP. JUST HAVE IT FOR ME WHEN I GET TO ZZZ1.' HE SAID OK. ON THE CAR RIDE BACK TO THE ACFT; I ASKED MR X AGAIN IF HE KNOWS HOW TO DO THE START AND PUSH BACK. 'IF YOU DISCONNECT PWR; YOU WILL SHUT US DOWN.' I SAID 'LIGHTS ARE OUT; CLRED TO REMOVE STAIRS; READY FOR AIR.' HE SAID 'REMOVING STAIRS.' I WAITED FOR HIM TO SAY 'CLRED TO START' BUT HE NEVER DID; SO I SAID 'BRAKES ARE SET' THEN ASKED 'ARE WE CLRED TO START #3?' HE SAID 'ROGER' (PROPER AOM PHRASEOLOGY IS 'CLRED TO START'). AGAIN I ASKED; 'ARE WE CLRED TO START #3?' THIS TIME HE SAID; 'ARE YOU CLRED TO START #3?