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 verifying aircraft performance during takeoff and must be prepared to abort if the aircraft doesn't meet expectations.
Aborting a takeoff is a proactive safety measure, demonstrating sound pilot judgment rather than failure, often resulting in minimal damage even during a runway overrun.
Critical checkpoints at various stages—including lineup, takeoff roll, airspeed, and runway midpoint—are crucial for assessing aircraft performance and making the go/no-go decision.

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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.

Lineup Check

Are trim tabs, flaps and fuel selector(s) properly positioned? If not, fix or abort. If yes, continue.

Takeoff Roll

At full throttle, are the rpm and/or manifold pressure and fuel flow where they should be for the elevation and temperature? If not, abort. If yes, continue.