Pilot 'jargon'.

[Erdinger]

Why does a pilot say 'ROTATE' at the point of take off??????

[Quizmonster]

Basically because - by pulling back on the yoke (joystick/control-column) - he is causing the aircraft to 'rotate' through the pitch axis...ie the up/down axis as opposed to the roll and yaw axes. (If Ewood - an ex airline pilot - comes along, I'm sure he'll give you a more specific answer.)

[Clanad]

Actually, the usual command by the pilot not flying (PNF) is "V1, Rotate, V2".  There is a "target" pitch up attitude for each combination of aircraft weight, usually about 12 to 17 degrees nose up. The "V" speeds are read from the airspeed indicator by the pilot not flying so the pilot flying is looking outside or at flight attitude instruments in the event of a low visibility take-off. Quizmonster is entirley correct, the control coumn is applying an up force on the elevators, controls attached horizontally to the tail of the aircraft.  By the way, most crews alternate take-off and landings with each other to give even more experience to the First Officer (co-pilot), so the PNF references which ever pilot is not actually handling the controls.  The responsibility of aircraft command always rests with the Captain, however...

[brachiopod]

Just to add to clanad's excellent answer;

V1 and V2 are calculated before take-off and depend on such variables as atmospheric conditions and aircraft load.

V1 also factors in the length of the runway, as V1 is 'the point of no return' whereby the pilot must continue with take-off even if an engine fails. (Aircraft have to be capable of taking off with one engine down as part of their certification.)

Any attempt to abort take-off once V1 has been attained will result in the aircraft running out of runway before it has had time to stop. The consequences of overshooting the runway at a high rate of knots are not very pleasant!

The next time you fly, listen out for these 'callouts' (as they are known) from the Pilot Not Flying. Once you hear 'V1' you know that the only way is up !!

[Erdinger]

Thanks for all your answers, brill'.....