Just the other day I witnessed an RTO (medium speed
). The amount of questions being asked by ATC to the pilot, and obviously not in 'any' distress, the amount of time taken by the pilot(s) to answer him, makes me ask questions. It is posed mainly to our ATC friends, but I'd like to know what your (pilots) ATC friends think (if you get any views) and what your views are?
My ATC friend says, he wouln't hit the crash button if it was a 'low-speed RTO'. His concern was mainly a 'high-speed RTO' because of possiblity of brake fires. Good point. My further question was, could a low-speed RTO be due to an Engine-Fire? "Hmm, yeah, I suppose you're right" - Not the point.....
1. What does ATC have in their SOPs for an RTO?
2. Why all the questions? We had an RTO, not an everyday occurence. Why not hit the 'crash button' ask questions later? Give us pilots time to sort out the problem we had, that caused the RTO!
3. What do we pilots expect ATC to do?
4. Would/Should we call a MayDay if we RTO-ed for an Engine Fire?
Needless to say, we're looking into SOPs all the time to make them better - (Risk Management?).
Ta and Safe Bidings!