B737 MAX Series Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
I was doing the Captain preflight duties as specified by the Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM). This was the first time in an actual MAX aircraft (not counting the MAX return to service training in the SIM) since the aircraft were grounded 2+ years ago. As I was completing the preflight duties; I neglected to set the autobrakes to RTO. I believe the cause of this was; the autobrake selector in the MAX is in a different position than the NexGen aircraft; specifically in the center console rather than next to the landing gear selector lever. Also; the flight paperwork was placed in such a position as to cover the autobrake selector knob. When we accomplished the Before Start Checklist; of course one of the items is 'AUTOBRAKE' with a response of 'RTO'. I responded with the appropriate call of 'RTO' purely by rote memory without actually looking at the autobrake selector. I recall looking towards the landing gear lever where I expected to see the autobrake selector and for some reason was convinced I saw it and it was set properly to RTO. We taxied out and departed uneventfully. It was only upon accomplishing the clean-up items after flap retraction that we noticed the autobrake selector was in the off position. The rest of the flight continued uneventfully.
B737 MAX Captain reported not activating the auto brake system for RTO when completing the before takeoff checklist.