Lets look at a typical Gate to Runway Setup dialog....
Takeoff -The departure process
The takeoff really starts when we are sitting at the gate, during the boarding process. The flight plan is programmed into the Flight Management System (FMS) and any special procedures, such as an EO Sid (Engine Out Departure) is placed into a secondary flight plan.
After the Pilot who will not be flying double check the work, the Pilot Flying does a departure briefing
“Ok, this will be a Right Seat Departure off of Runway 22L, from here we can expect to taxi via taxiway Bravo, and November, we have two runways to cross 15L and 15R, we will consider those hotspots and be heads up with no checklist while we are crossing. Runway 22L is 9,000 feet long, we’ll be flying the SSOXS4 Departure with a restriction to cross TJAYY intersection above 4,000 feet, that is programmed. Should we lose an engine after V1, we will fly the Engine Out Procedure, which is runway heading, Engine Out Acceleration Altitude will be 1000 feet and we will plan to return to Runway 22R”
Once the performance numbers are sent to the aircraft, we will know the aircraft weight, how much runway we will use, and our Speeds…
V1 143 Knots : This is the most critical speed…if anything happens before it, we have enough runway to reject the takeoff and stop….anything after it, we go fly.
VR 146 Knots : This is when we pull back and go fly
V3 150 Knots : If we lose an Engine, we climb at this speed until that briefed altitude of 1000 feet, and then we speed up, clean the flaps up and continue the climb at L/D Max Speed, also known as green dot.
As we taxi out, we run the taxi checklist and checklist…
Flight Controls….Checked
Flight Instruments…Checked
V Speeds / Flex Temp…143, 146, 150 FMS Speeds, Flex Takeoff 42 degrees…Checked Runway 22R
You get the picture….
The Pilot Flying then gives one last briefing “22R, Ssoxx4, navigate to TJAYY, EFP is the same, no changes”
Then the First Officer seats the Flight Attendants
“ladies and gentlemen, we are #2 for takeoff, Flight Attends please be seated.”
They give us a “Cabin Ready” signal, telling us everyone is ready in the back
Then we do the before takeoff checklist
Takeoff Briefing….Complete
Flight Attendants…Ready
Anti Ice….OFF
Bleeds….On/Engine
We receive the Takeoff Clearance:
“Spike 22, the wind is 220 @ 12 gusting 25, Runway 22R, Cleared For Takeoff”
“Spike 22, Cleared For Takeoff 22R”
The power is smoothly advanced to 55%, then as the engines stabilize, they are pushed up until the Autothrottles take over.
PF = Pilot Flying
PM = Pilot Monitoring
PM “Thrust Green”
PM “80 knots, Power Set”
PF “Checked”
PM “V1…..Rotate”
PF smoothly pitches up into the Flight Director, which is commanding about 12.5-17.5 degrees nose up (depending on the weight and configuration)
PM : “Positive Rate”
PF: “Gear Up”
PF: “Nav Green”
The PF flies the departure procedure at a speed of V2+10 knots, which is what the flight director is commanding. At 1000 feet, the PF lowers the nose and starts accelerating. As the plane crosses the designated Flap Retraction Speeds he will call for the flaps to be reduced until they are at zero.
F2 speed PF “Flaps 2”
PM “Speed Checked, Flaps 2”
F1 Speed PF “Flaps 1”
PM “Speed Checked, Flaps 1”
F0 Speed PF “Flaps 0, After Takeoff Checklist”
PM “Speed Checked, Flaps 0”
ATC: “Spike 22, Contact Departure 133.0
“departure 33.0, good day, Spike 22”
PM: “After TO Check Complete”
At this point, you feel the aircraft start to pitch up and climb more rapidly again. We will climb at 250 Knots until reaching 10,000 feet, and then once again lower the nose and accelerate to our final climb speed…between 290-310 knots
The aircraft never sinks, never struggles to climb. Everything you feel is intentional.
The hope is that by knowing what’s coming (and why), you can be better prepared for the sensations that you feel. When you feel that initial “sinking feeling”, you can think “Oh, we are at 1,000 feet and now the flaps will start coming up….yep, there they go!” And then “well, the flaps are up, we are. Going to start climbing faster again”
I hope this helps.