4Dogs,
A contradiction ?
Not really.
First I don't think that it is sensible to get the pilot to do the ops engineer's job - he has neither the time nor the data.
My attitude is that the ops engineer's job is to screw the best weight out of the runway considering all relevant matters, including company commercial and risk policies. You mention escape paths - this is a matter in which I have considerable experience and, I suspect, it is not always addressed as well as it ought to be by all operators.
The problem which I see often is that the pilot is somewhat ill-informed by his system as to the details which went into the sums. If he were to have these, and adequate knowledge about the various matters, then he is better placed to make assessments as to what is, or is not, reasonable to lift, from a given runway under given conditions. That is, the pilot ought to be empowered, within sensible bounds, to invoke a risk related buffer when such is appropriate.
Clearly, it is a balance between commercial reality, risk, and a bit for mum and the kids .... and the Chief Pilot might want to discuss the Commander's decision over tea and bikkies if it is a bit too much on the conservative side.
My interest in this forum is to see stimulated discussion from a pilot's viewpoint on these, sometimes grey, areas with a view to pilots gaining increased awareness of some of the problems. This, I think, is better than the blinkered rote approach seen in many pilots.
With knowledge comes realistic approaches to, and solutions in respect of, such matters....
[This message has been edited by john_tullamarine (edited 03 July 2001).]