Originally Posted by
iaflyer
I don't know how AWABS figures it out, but I remember at my previous airline, we would use Flaps 0 rather than 15 at times for takeoff. It was for better second segment climb - we used it in Mexico at high elevation airport with terrain on the departure.
We used lots of runway, but once we were airborne, we climbed pretty good. This was in a Falcon 20.
Iaflyer:
I believe you are correct. In a previous aircraft, and which seems to be the case in the MD88/90, if you have close in obstacles or a short runway, you will have a high flap setting. For distant or second climb segment obstacles, a higher flap setting was used.