Where do takeoff speeds (V1, VR, V2) come from and how are they used?

• A. They come from aircraft performance data in AFM/FCOM or FMS; used to determine decision speed, rotation, and safe climb speed.
• B. They are randomly chosen by the pilot.
• C. They come from the SOP manual.
• D. They are set by the autopilot automatically.

Answer: (A)

Takeoff speeds come from the aircraft’s performance data, as documented in the AFM/FCOM or loaded into the FMS. They aren’t guesswork or SOP numbers; they’re calculated from the airplane’s current situation—weight, flap setting, elevation and density altitude, runway conditions, wind, and any anti-ice or other configurations. Those data define V1, VR, and V2 and how they’re used during the takeoff.

V1 is the speed at which a decision must be made to continue the takeoff or abort. VR is the rotation speed at which the pilot begins to lift the nose and depart the ground. V2 is the minimum safe takeoff speed that ensures the aircraft can climb safely, including with one engine inoperative, and meet the required climb gradient. The FMS or cockpit displays help the crew monitor these speeds, and the autopilot may manage the flight once the speeds are set, but the actual values come from the performance data, not from random selection or from the SOP manual.