Boeing247: Hey, Lou. I would imagine that if there was an engine failure on takeoff, you would just circle around and land,   but what are some possible failures that you would continue on to the destination airport with?

You may or may not just circle and land. You might be too heavy and need to dump fuel - that takes time. The weather could be below landing limits and you need to go to your takeoff alternate. A 4 engine plane could continue, but you better make sure everything else is working. A pilot should never make a decision about safety thinking about what the "company" wants. A while back a 747, I think BA, took off from KLAX bound for EGLL.
They had an engine fail on takeoff, but elected to continue to destination. The pilot took a lot of heat for the decision to continue because he was pressured by the company to "go" because of the expense of putting up all the passengers. It worked out since he made it although he was very late because he had to fly at reduced speed, but can you imagine what would have happened if he had to divert to some northern Canadian emergency field with another engine failure. My decision in something like that was - could I defend this at the hearing?

Kuujjuaq CYVP is one of the northern Canadian emergency fields. EMERGENCY is the operative word! How would you like to have to land there on a cold winter night on two engines?