Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practice Exam

Which speed is critical for ensuring that an aircraft can gain required height after an engine failure during takeoff?

1. V1

2. Vx

3. V2

4. Vy

The correct answer is: V2

The speed critical for ensuring that an aircraft can gain the required height after an engine failure during takeoff is V2. V2 is known as the takeoff safety speed, and it is the minimum speed at which the aircraft can safely climb following an engine failure. Achieving V2 during the initial climb guarantees that the aircraft has enough lift and control to maintain a climb gradient, allowing for the necessary altitude to avoid obstacles in the departure path. This speed also provides a buffer against stall and allows the pilot to maintain aircraft performance in the event of a malfunction. In contrast, while V1 is the decision speed where the pilot must either continue the takeoff or abort, and Vx and Vy are climb performance speeds useful for different scenarios, they do not specifically address the immediate need for safety following an engine failure at the most critical phase of flight, which is why V2 is the correct focus here.