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 continuously monitoring aircraft performance during takeoff and must be prepared to abort if any issues indicate the aircraft is not performing as expected.
Aborting a takeoff is a crucial demonstration of sound pilot judgment and commitment to safety, prioritizing lives over proceeding with a faulty flight.
Critical checkpoints throughout the takeoff sequence—including lineup, engine performance, airspeed development, and runway midpoint speed—provide opportunities for pilots to assess aircraft readiness and decide whether to continue or abort.

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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.