Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3.9; Flight Crew Total 565.18; Flight Crew Type 565.18
Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
Maintenance release form noted throttles failed to fully advance on takeoff by a previous crew. Maintenance believed it was due to worn servo gears that were not in stock; so write up was deferred with autothrottle switch off. The maintenance release form gave no direction to the flight crew. I knew from previous experience and similar write ups that we should look up our climb EPR settings. I thought of it; but I failed to mention it to the FO; nor did I write it down; as I often do to avoid forgetting or becoming distracted.We knew our takeoff power setting; but at the initial power reduction we both realized we did not know what EPR setting we should use for climb. This caused distraction during the climb phase. We initially simply set less EPR that still gave good climb performance. Then we referenced the appropriate climb performance charts in the FM. Later; I read in the FM about inoperative TMC; which I determined was essentially our situation due to autothrottle arm switch being in OFF position.That discussion reminded us to also know our missed approach EPR. The FO said he had not experienced such a situation before. I told him I have and I shared some of that with him.Both of us have flown very little due to COVID-19. I have flown only less than five hours plus landings requal in the sim in the last 90 days.
Air carrier Captain reported taking off with a deferred item resulting in the autothrottle arm switch to be in the 'OFF' position. The deferral requires the crew to look up the EPR climb settings before takeoff; which they failed to do.