Capt.Doug wrote:
"Doug Carter" wrote in message So what? The question was "is it SOP to
take off with passengers and a dead engine?"


The engine was not dead when they took off. Your question as it stands is
irrelevent.

The context of the question was the takeoff from Manchester. Apparently
moot though, it has since been reported that the plane was ferried to
London for its engine change without passengers.

Regarding two versus four engine missed approach, I never disputed that
the airplanes ability to do this; just seems an uphill argument to prove
to the FAA that a damaged airplane is as safe as an undamaged one. This
may also be moot as well; one report (Associated Press) said the FAA,
though concerned, did not have jurisdiction over the British crew.

Second, From a business perspective keep in mind that there is a lot of
competition for business class ticket revenue.

Most passengers are concerned about airline safety yet are truly ignorant
about what is safe.

For "most passengers" I tend to agree with you but BA lost economy fare
and freight volume in 2004; their only gain (about 6%) was in premium
fare traffic. Business class passengers pay a bit more attention the
the once in a lifetime vacationer. The readers comments in the Wall
Street Journal have been very negative.