Originally Posted by
cessnapete
Also whoever was PF was able to call Stop and reject the takeoff. I believe some companies only allow the Capt that decision and he controls the thrust levers on all takeoffs.
Presumably because of not having the confidence in the training and competence of their pilots.
The decision to stop is definitely a command decision in my opinion.
Ever heard of TORA? It's a model for how decision making should happen depending on how critical the decision is and the experience levels of the crew.
Together. A non-critical decision with an experienced crew member should be done together.
Offer. A non-critical decision with an inexperienced crew member should be offered to them so they may learn from it.
Refer. A critical decision with an experienced crew member, the captain should refer to the other crew member.
Alone. A critical decision with an inexperienced crew member. The captain makes the decision alone.
The first three assume time available to make the decision. The final method, "Alone", is not only dependant on the experience level of the other crew member but also the time available. A decision to abort is a critical decision and there is no time to make it together, or offer it to the other person, or refer to the other person, so it should be done alone.
There are very few times that a captain should make a decision entirely alone, but the decision to abort is definitely one of those times.