MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Total 11800
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
We were cleared for takeoff Runway 22 at ELP. At V1 speed we saw a single engine Cessna at 50 feet out our front left window turning and descending. We elected to keep the aircraft on the ground to let the Cessna go overhead and then we climbed out at V1 plus 40 KTS. This can be avoided by not giving any aircraft the option to touch and go; they should be made to make a full stop landing and the Controller should have let us wait until the Cessna was out of the way.
I was pilot flying during takeoff; Runway 22 at ELP. As I started to rotate; the Captain called out traffic slightly above and to our left. I saw the single engine Cessna in a right turn towards north which looked as if it would cross our path; creating a risk of collision. I momentarily stopped/reduced rate of rotation as the safest alternative to getting airborne and climbing into the conflicting traffic. Once judging [we were] clear of the conflict; rotation and climb out continued safely.
MD80 flight crew departing Runway 22 at ELP reports a potential airborne conflict with a single engine Cessna; maneuvering at low altitude just to the south of Runway 22. The rotation is delayed until the Cessna has passed behind.