Stopping on the Runway: Rejected Take-offs
2 min read
The short answer
Sometimes pilots decide to stop a take-off part-way down the runway. It feels abrupt, but it's a planned, practised decision. Before every take-off, pilots calculate the speed up to which they'd stop, and the runway is always long enough to stop safely from that speed.
A Sudden Stop
You're speeding down the runway — then the engines roar differently, the brakes come on hard and the plane slows to a stop. It's startling. But this is called a rejected take-off, and it's one of the most carefully planned moments in flying.
The Decision Is Made in Advance
Before every take-off, the pilots calculate a decision speed for that flight. It depends on the plane's weight, the runway, the weather and the temperature.
- Below that speed, if anything isn't right, they stop.
- Above it, they carry on and deal with any issue in the air — something the plane is fully able to do.
They say this plan out loud in their briefing, on every single flight. So if they need to stop, there's no hesitation.
There's Always Room to Stop
The runway must be long enough to stop safely from the decision speed — not just to take off. Airliner brakes are even tested to do this at full weight when they're nearly worn out. Read is the runway long enough?
Why Pilots Stop
Often it's something small: a warning light, an unusual reading, or air traffic control asking them to stop. Pilots stop early rather than take anything into the air that doesn't look perfect.
Practised Again and Again
Rejected take-offs are a standard part of simulator training. Pilots practise them throughout their careers, until the response is automatic.
What Happens Next
The plane usually taxis back. Engineers may take a look, and you often leave a little later. The brakes may need time to cool down.
The Takeaway
A rejected take-off is the safety system doing exactly what it's designed to do — choosing the careful option, with plenty of runway to spare.
Sources
- SKYbrary, Rejected Take-Off: https://skybrary.aero/articles/rejected-take
- FAA, 14 CFR 25.109 — Accelerate-stop distance (including the test with nearly worn brakes): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-25.109
- FAA, Advisory Circular 120-62 — Takeoff Safety Training Aid: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%20120-62.pdf
Keep reading
Is the Runway Long Enough?
How pilots make sure every take-off and landing fits the runway with plenty to spare — including on wet days and if a take-off has to be stopped.
What Happens During Takeoff
A step-by-step explanation of the takeoff sequence — every sound, sensation, and phase explained.
A Delay Is the Safety System Working
Why flights get delayed — technical checks, weather, air traffic spacing — and why a delay means someone chose the careful option.