QF A380 rolls down the runway and pilots use hand written notes for takeoff speed

[sail0r]

Superjumbo slip-up due to programming error, inquiry told

Distracted Qantas pilots mucked up programming their Airbus A380 coughpit computers and only realised they did so as they hurtled down a Los Angeles airport runway, air safety investigators have found.
Interruptions to pre-flight procedures meant pilots had no readout of the target speeds they needed to reach in order to lift off — something the captain only noticed as the plane hit 100 knots (185km/h) accelerating along on the tarmac.
While one instrument gave them their instantaneous rolling speed, the pilots had to read from handwritten notes to recall the lift-off target speeds they had to reach, investigators said.
That pilots had handwritten notes as a back-up was "fortuitous", Fairfax Media has been told.

Read more: Qantas A380 superjumbo | Pilot distracted during take-off mistake

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...nquiry-told-20120808-23u4o.html#ixzz22x40iOec

I won't google, so if I show my ignorance, so be it, but pushing to full thrust without confirming V1, V2 seems pretty odd to me. Great they had handwritten notes, but wouldn't you be looking to the Air Speed Indicator to have this sort of information (is there a blue pointer or the like?)
Anyone know if the investigation said that they had gone past the point of no return, or should the captain have aborted takeoff?

 

[N860CR]

It's a bit strange... it's usually checked a few times before takeoff.

The "handwritten note" wasn't really "fortuitous" as the drama queens try to make out, it's required to be written alongside much of the takeoff data on an official document that is kept in view of both pilots. The backup worked as it should have.

 

[samh004]

So the backup works, good to hear




 

[straitman]

So the backup works, good to hear




.... and I seem to recall that jb747 has already addressed this in the Ask The Pilot Thread.

This is not normal but to answer sail0r's question it is/was more appropriate to continue the takeoff than reject it as they had all the required information.

 

[NM]

.... and I seem to recall that jb747 has already addressed this in the Ask The Pilot Thread.

This is not normal but to answer sail0r's question it is/was more appropriate to continue the takeoff than reject it as they had all the required information.

And a high-energy (article says they had reached 100 knots) rejected take-off has its own risks.

 

[tuppaware]

Such an overplay . I would say it just didnt announce the speed and V1 /Rotate. I'm sure in Boeings they announce them by hand anyways .

 

[sail0r]

Thanks for the replies, I noticed the ask the pilot thread after I posted this. (still learning my way around this site).
I think JB mentioned stopping at 70 knots might have been OK.
Is it possible for anyone to elaborate on some of the risks of high energy rejection of takeoff?

 

[markis10]

Such an overplay . I would say it just didnt announce the speed and V1 /Rotate. I'm sure in Boeings they announce them by hand anyways .

Ahh, read the report, its a bit more than that!