Quote:
Originally Posted by Hacker15e  Although today's fighters have zero-zero ejection seats, there is always inherent risk when you pull the handles, too. Like with a high speed abort, you have to assess and compare risks. Also as with other emergencies you have to decide beforehand what you will and won't eject for. We have an adage that goes "the decision to eject is made on the ground." |
I guess the Captains hands coming off the thrust levers at v1 is the transport category aircraft equivalent of "making that decision on the ground". It is probably the best decision 99.9% of the time, and very few people would have the presence of mind to think about anything other than safely flying the aircraft off the ground in the very limited amount of time. So while I agree we are not robots, as you have pointed out, some things decisions need to be made beforehand.
On another note, I had a buddy that flew A-6s. I remember discussing the differences between TACAIR EPs and ours. The NATOPS boldface procedures were somtimes very short. (It has been awhile, but as I remember...)
Engine fire
1. Confirm by secondary indications.
2. eject
Electrical fire
1. eject
Departure below x feet agl
1. eject