Abort-Analysis Checklist

Its up to the airplane to demonstrate to us its capable of performing on takeoff. And its up to us to ensure its doing what its supposed to do and, if not, to abort the takeoff and live to fly another time. At most of the airports from which we fly, even a runway overrun, like the one pictured above, results in no or minimal damage.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots are responsible for ensuring aircraft performance during takeoff and must abort if any critical parameters are not met.
Aborting a takeoff is not a pilot failure, but a demonstration of sound judgment and a commitment to safety.
Specific checkpoints during lineup and takeoff roll (e.g., trim, engine output, airspeed acceleration, runway midpoint speed) serve as critical go/no-go decisions.
Prioritizing safety through an aborted takeoff is crucial, as even runway overruns often result in minimal damage.

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It’s up to the airplane to demonstrate to us it’s capable of performing on takeoff. And it’s up to us to ensure it’s doing what it’s supposed to do and, if not, to abort the takeoff and live to fly another time. At most of the airports from which we fly, even a runway overrun, like the one pictured above, results in no or minimal damage.

Remember: Aborting a takeoff isn’t a failure on the part of the pilot; it’s a pilot showing the right stuff by recognizing the wrong stuff and taking action to keep people alive.