Originally Posted by
SeamusTheHound
Note that in this case JFK Tower DID NOT command Delta to reject the takeoff. Rather, the controller canceled Delta’s takeoff clearance. There’s a difference.
Canceling the takeoff clearance still means that the Captain needs to decide what to do:
a) Reject the takeoff
or
b) Continue the takeoff without a clearance
Whichever is safer in the Captain’s judgment.
After my 3rd and and last (hopefully ever) experience with this I called and spoke to the tower supervisor at the departure airport. After he apologized to the FO and I we spoke at length about aborts. “Discontinue Takeoff Clearance” is the standard phraseology when tower wants you to stop. Yes it’s the captains decision as to how to react.
Interesting he had no idea about high speed vs. low speed regimes or the abort criteria we use. He was surprised to learn that ATC is not mentioned in any of the abort criteria.