Originally Posted by
dawgdriver
Performance numbers look great on paper, but we all know they represent ideal conditions and test pilots. This guy was new, considered the challenges of the environment and his own limitations/experience. He made the call I would have wanted with my family on board. We should be commending him for his steadfast decision-making, judgement and conservative approach. I would love to see the FAA response to a guy like that getting terminated for solid judgement.
I don't know what the performance for the MD-80 says. Is there a penalty for manual spoilers?
I understand the argument about ideal conditions, etc, but where does it stop?
Would you turn it down for crosswinds approaching the limit? I'm mean, your not a test pilot and it's not perfect conditions. What about the T/Rs being inop?
What if everything is working but he is still not comfortable with the margin? In my flight sim today, I had a 404 foot stopping margin if rejected at V1. That's doing everything perfect. Good thing I sit in a comfy office chair.