Anthony mentions glider winch launching and I believe from my experience as a
(retired)
glider pilot and instructor that there is much to be learned from the
winch launch experience that is applicable to the engine failure on take off
situation.
Glider pilots are trained to "do the right thing" when the winch launch fails.
In a nutshell, when the launch fails you generally have the choice of landing
ahead or making a VERY abbreviated circuit with other options possibly being
available
depending on such factors as airfield size and shape, wind speed and
direction, aircraft performance, and so on.
In my opinion, the hardest part of handling the winch launch failure is not
getting
the speed under control (attitude!) but it's making the right decision as
to what to do next. Once the (right) decision has been made, the pressure on
the pilot is very much reduced. Rules such as "always land ahead" are not
acceptable
because safe alternatives (normally do) exist. It all comes down to judgement
and that only comes from experience.
It takes quite a lot of training before a low hours glider pilot can safely
handle
a winch launch failure at any stage of the launch. i.e. they make the right
decision every time. As any glider pilot will tell you, it's sometimes a very
difficult decision to make. It's often the case that after the launch has failed
(the instructor pulled the cable release) and the pupil has got the atitude
and speed under control that nothing else happens! They just sit there not
making a decision until the instructor suggests something before all the options
run out.
I think the point I'm getting to here is that a well trained and current glider
pilot should be able to make the right decision and cope with a winch launch
failure at any height. But that glider pilot has had a lot of very realistic
training
to help hone their decision making skills and judgement and (crucially)
they continue to be tested on a regular basis and if their performance isn't
adequate then more training is required.
Now how about the power world? Apart from Bill (really 5?), how much REALISTIC
training do power pilots get in terms of making the right decision regarding
whether
it is possible to turn back or not after engine failure on take off? Very
little I think. How much experience does the average pilot have? I suspect
that most have hardly any at all.
So I believe that power pilots need to be very conservative in their judgement
when it comes to decide whether to go straight on or to turn back.
And finally, remember the old Test Pilot's motto "If you're going to hit a
house,
aim for a window!"
Mark
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