Hi guys & galls. Sorry for the late reply but been on holidays (yes that is still possible in our company). Thanks for all the answers, especially CTW for your elaborate thinking the problem out. On most points I agree with you, only I wouldn’t like an eager FO go over my hands if he thinks I’m incapacitated while I just might be putting these little grey cells of mine to work.
As I see it there are three main procedures (with variations among them):
1- The FO does the complete take off and if necessary the reject.
2- The FO does the take off ,the captain handles the throttles and takes control of the A/C in case of a reject.
3- The FO does the take off and the initial thrust setting, after thrust is set the captain takes over the throttles (around 80 kts). This is the procedure described by Boeing.
The take off is a critical flight phase especially when a RTO decision has to be made. This is why the procedure should be SIMPLE, CLEAR and UNAMBIGUOUS. Most points about the (dis)-advantages of the various procedures have been made by you all so I won’t repeat them.
Regarding point 1 I would even consider to let the FO have the authority to abort in the following 4 cases: -Engine Failure
-Fire Warning
-Take Off warning
-Controllability problems.
These cases are clear-cut and any pilot should stop for them. As the FO is looking outside he can only react to what he hears or feels. The captain can always call STOP if anything else goes wrong, for which he thinks an abort is advisable. If he is go minded he should give the V1 call timely so the FO hands are off the throttles as V1 is reached.
My main objection to procedure 2 and 3 is that at any time a control change is taking place during the roll.
My other point is against a change in procedures. Whatever procedure is used in your company initially stick to it! When the sh.. hits the fan and the split second decision has to be made, people act like monkeys to the procedures that have been enforced for years. As younger people adapt more easily to change than the “less younger” ones (thus mostly the captains), there is room for Mr Murpy to creep in and certainly an abort gone wrong is gonna happen.
Safe flying to you all.