What is V1?

What is V1?

• A. Takeoff decision speed: maximum speed at which the rejected takeoff can be initiated and the airplane stopped within the remaining runway.
• B. Takeoff speed at rotation
• C. Stall speed
• D. Landing approach speed

Answer: (A)

V1 is the takeoff decision speed—the maximum speed at which the crew can initiate a rejected takeoff and still stop the aircraft on the remaining runway. It marks the boundary between aborting and continuing the takeoff. If an issue or engine failure occurs before reaching V1, the takeoff can be safely aborted and the airplane brought to a stop on the available runway. If trouble arises at or after V1, there isn’t enough runway remaining to stop safely, so the takeoff is continued. This speed is set based on performance calculations using runway length, surface, slope, wind, airplane weight, braking effectiveness, and engine/thrust settings. It’s different from other well-known speeds: rotation speed is when you lift off the nose to begin climb, stall speed is the minimum speed for level flight, and landing approach speed is the speed used during descent toward landing.

V1 is the takeoff decision speed—the maximum speed at which the crew can initiate a rejected takeoff and still stop the aircraft on the remaining runway. It marks the boundary between aborting and continuing the takeoff. If an issue or engine failure occurs before reaching V1, the takeoff can be safely aborted and the airplane brought to a stop on the available runway. If trouble arises at or after V1, there isn’t enough runway remaining to stop safely, so the takeoff is continued.

This speed is set based on performance calculations using runway length, surface, slope, wind, airplane weight, braking effectiveness, and engine/thrust settings. It’s different from other well-known speeds: rotation speed is when you lift off the nose to begin climb, stall speed is the minimum speed for level flight, and landing approach speed is the speed used during descent toward landing.