The MD11

[UPSNewbie]

To be more off topic than FATW, can a mod PLEASE remove that picture?

[/offtopic]

 

[MrFedEx]

To get back on topic, Fred is much more concerned about losing the MD11 than any pilots. If there is an FAA directive grounding it or requiring major modifications, he's going to be upset since FedEx operates more of them than anyone else. It would cost him money.

As I've found out more about this accident, I now know that FedEx recommends landing it automatically (CAT3) in adverse conditions. The computer can make corrections faster than any human, and in a wind shear would have firewalled the throttles and done a go-around. If you look at the pictures of the engines the thrust reversers look like they were deployed. In other words, the pilot was probably hand-flying the aircraft, was set-up to land, and could not have reacted quickly enough given the poor handling characteristics of the MD11 in such conditions.

From what I've heard, the MD11 is perhaps the most difficult commercial aircraft to control in adverse weather. Even the world's best pilot cannot overcome an inherent design flaw.

Again, this is all speculation, but the notorious reputation of the MD11 appears to finally be catching up to it.

 

[drewed]

Im not trying to bad mouth the pilot by any means here, Im sure he was an excellent pilot, the word we got today was the captain had just come off long term medical leave and had over corrected when the wind hit....
On a side note, maybe unionman can elaborate or clarify this, that theres a auto compensation in the tail of the aircraft and in high wind conditions or during a bounce it wants to correct itself but with the bounce and wind caused it to over compensate causing the flip....

Again all speculation....

 

[unionman]

No there is no such system on any aircraft that I know of. Especially if he was flying it manually.
My guess is that it will be a combination of things like the other guy said, he was away from the cockpit for some time due to an illness and then returned only to be caught in a very difficult landing. Maybe he just made a mistake. Pilots are human too. I fly a lot and it at first surprised me how when a pilot has been on vacation or hasn't flown in a while , he or she will always tell the other pilot, make sure he or she doesn't make any mistakes. Flying an airplane is easy if everything goes smoothly, but if there is a problem you better be on top of your game.

 

[FedEx All the Way!]

FedEx ready to cancel Boeing jet orders?




Is FedEx (FDX) blackmailing Congress or simply playing hardball? Either way, the shipping company is not making things easy on lawmakers these days.
FedEx is steamed about a bill working its way through Congress, and is threatening to cancel billions of dollars in new plane orders from Boeing (BA) as a result, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The bill would make it easier to form unions at FedEx, which has been nearly union-free to this point. That's very different from rival UPS (UPS), where more than half of the employees are union members.
Upset by the threat of more unions, FedEx is fighting back by clamping down its pocketbook. It might cancel orders for up to 30 new cargo planes from Boeing if lawmakers pass the bill. That would have been a $7 bilion purchase.
"It is exceedingly unlikely that we would purchase those airplanes," a FedEx spokesman told the Journal. He makes the claim -- a quite flimsy one -- that those planes become unnecessary when the bill cripples the company.
Predictably, unions have fired off a strong response. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters called FedEx irresponsible and shortsighted.
"It is a slap in the face to Congress and the American people," said a Teamsters executive. "The bill should be evaluated on its merit -- not upon the threat of FedEx to fire another torpedo through the American economy."
And a House Democrat who co-sponsored the bill says FedEx is just "huffing and puffing."

Normally, Boeing stays out of these squabbles. But $7 billion is a motivating figure, and analysts think Boeing will start lobbying Congress aggressively on FedEx's behalf. After all, Boeing needs every dollar it can these days as customers struggle for financing to buy more planes.

If that happens, FedEx's move is quite brilliant. It gains a powerful lobbying ally and takes advantage of a weak economic environment in which lawmakers are desperate to see businesses and consumers start spending again.



WAY TO GO FEDEX - SMART MOVE! KEEP THEM OUT!!!!!!

 

[FedEx All the Way!]

To get back on topic, Fred is much more concerned about losing the MD11 than any pilots. If there is an FAA directive grounding it or requiring major modifications, he's going to be upset since FedEx operates more of them than anyone else. It would cost him money.

As I've found out more about this accident, I now know that FedEx recommends landing it automatically (CAT3) in adverse conditions. The computer can make corrections faster than any human, and in a wind shear would have firewalled the throttles and done a go-around. If you look at the pictures of the engines the thrust reversers look like they were deployed. In other words, the pilot was probably hand-flying the aircraft, was set-up to land, and could not have reacted quickly enough given the poor handling characteristics of the MD11 in such conditions.

From what I've heard, the MD11 is perhaps the most difficult commercial aircraft to control in adverse weather. Even the world's best pilot cannot overcome an inherent design flaw.

Again, this is all speculation, but the notorious reputation of the MD11 appears to finally be catching up to it.

Losing the plane instead of the pilots - WOW! You really think the worst in people.
My sincere condolences to the families of the pilots - may god be with you in these hard times.
As for MrFedEx I believe that was very wrong.

 

[FedEx All the Way!]

FedEx all the way,

I sincerely applaud the passion you have for your husbands employer, as there are many spouses out there that don't take the time to get involved like you do. I not being sarcastic when i say that, im sincerely glad you believe in something that strongly.

But what I don't understand is how FedEx is "standing up" to the unions by threatening to take their business overseas? The impression I get (mind you, just an impression), is that Fred is trying to blackmail the government and trying to make the government stand up to the unions involved instead of trying to do this on his own.
If Fred, as you said, is not anti-union, then why is FedEx so afraid of the Teamsters?
Why not invite the Teamsters into FedEx and let the employees decide? I'm not talking just the drivers and handlers, but every one at FedEx, including your hubby.
Then if the employees decide that they don't want to unionize, then Fred has the paperwork necessary to tell the Teamsters to go to hell, correct?

I'm honestly not trying to start a war with you, im just trying to understand some of Freds logic in this situation.

Thank you, it was taken to heart. I'm a mother of 2 teenagers (boys) and wife of a FedEx worker. You see, (although some don't look at it this way) my husband started with FedEx from the ground up. He started off 15 years ago as a temp. He diligently worked days, nights and weekends to make it in upper management. He was not just handed that position, he worked very hard for it. Don't take it wrong - I believe that there are many at FedEx that have and still work hard. I also know in my husband's department there are many who think or should I say have the attitude that they can't be touched. They have been with FedEx for a while and think nothing would ever happen to them. Well let me tell you - they haven't seen the real world out there.
In my mind, what Fred is doing is trying to save the company - remember he employs approximately 290,000 people all over, some of us are thankful for that. Does anyone even think about how much it takes to run a company like FedEx.
As far as believing in unions - they were once great - but it is time for the Teamsters to get out - they are only out for themselves. Take a look at the auto industry - what has a union done for them? To me it is all greed and more greed. I think that we should be grateful with what we have and wait for the economy to rebound.
Although some may think I'm a dumb broad - I'm just a mother and wife who is content with my husband still being employed with FedEx in these tough times.
I wish you a good day!
Later,
PS. My condolences to the families of the pilots, may god be with you in these hard times.

 

[FedEx All the Way!]

One only needs to look at what unions have done to our education system, to understand why FDX feels the way they do. Or the U.S. Postal System. More money NEVER helps these worthless organizations.... Go FDX!!!

 

[drewed]

Thank you for calling me a dumb broad.
Have a great day.
Later,

Youre welcome, and you still continue to prove my point, THANK YOU

 

[MrFedEx]

Losing the plane instead of the pilots - WOW! You really think the worst in people.
My sincere condolences to the families of the pilots - may god be with you in these hard times.
As for MrFedEx I believe that was very wrong.

The 2 deceased pilots were given a first-class send-off today as their bodies were escorted from Japan by uniformed FedEx pilots, and then brought to their hometowns via FedEx aircraft. Very nice. Even Smith came down to the hangar when the plane from Japan touched-down in Memphis. Fred even allowed a fully uniformed UPS pilot to stand along with the FedEx crewmembers. A very classy gesture on the parts of both men.

My whole point in posting this thread was to say that the MD11 is a dangerous airplane. FedEx doesn't have to fly it, but they do because it's cheap to buy and is very efficient. They know it's not safe, but they continue to fly it without modifications that would remedy the problem. In other words, these 2 pilots did not need to perish. I'm sure their families and friends would prefer to still have them around rather than participate in ceremonies that honor their memory.

Please don't mis-quote me or try to change what I've said, which is that Smith is undoubtedly concerned that the MD11 fleet may either be grounded or required to be modified at some point in the future.That would cost him big-time, and although I'm sure that the loss of the pilots was upsetting, his bigger concern is whether or not the FAA is going to go after the flaws in the MD11.

And when you refer to "god", as you like to do so often, you need to capitalize His name to show that he is indeed God. I love the self-righteous.

 

[MrFedEx]

Losing the plane instead of the pilots - WOW! You really think the worst in people.
My sincere condolences to the families of the pilots - may god be with you in these hard times.
As for MrFedEx I believe that was very wrong.

Take a look at Airlinesafety.com and the dismal record of the MD11. Also, look at the pictures of the burnt-out, upside down MD11 at Newark in 1997, the same airplane that had almost flipped-over in Anchorage a few months earlier. Almost identical to the wreckage in Tokyo. The file is too long to copy and paste here, which should say something in and of itself.

A horribly unsafe airplane, that has been known to be so for many years. Yet FedEx continues to fly it in unaltered form, putting the lives of the pilots who fly it in jeopardy every time they step into the cockpit.

Why does Fred use it? Because it's the cheapest aircraft available to do what he needs it to do. Good business? No...saving money at the expense of the lives of pilots who have to fly this piece of junk.

 

[MrFedEx]

Youre welcome, and you still continue to prove my point, THANK YOU

Newark, 1997. Look familiar?

 

[MrFedEx]

This is NOT the Tokyo crash, but a picture of the 1997 Newark incident where another MD11 flipped and burned. According to Airlinesafety.com this very plane was damaged in another similar landing incident at Anchorage the year before.

It's amazing to me that the FAA continues to let this aircraft fly without modification. Perhaps Fred has pulled some strings there too.

 

[FedEx All the Way!]

Newark, 1997. Look familiar?

SAD!

 

[MrFedEx]

Once again, let's try to stay on the topic, which is the MD11. Isn't it interesting that the most common nickname pilots have for the MD11 is the "Deathstar". I always thought "Electric DC10" was clever, but in view of this plane's abysmal safety record, the former term seems a better choice.

 

[bbsam]

Nice to see MrFedex could pass along condolences when a UPS cargo plane went down. When it's Fedex it's all about the evil cost cutting tactics of the company. Pathetic but not surprising.

 

[LTFedExer]

Nice to see MrFedex could pass along condolences when a UPS cargo plane went down. When it's Fedex it's all about the evil cost cutting tactics of the company. Pathetic but not surprising.

This surprise's you?

 

[MrFedEx]

Nice to see MrFedex could pass along condolences when a UPS cargo plane went down. When it's Fedex it's all about the evil cost cutting tactics of the company. Pathetic but not surprising.

My criticism was of FedEx being the world's biggest operator of a very dangerous airplane, in fact, a very unsafe airplane. The UPS plane was a 747-400F, a highly reliable and safe aircraft with an excellent safety record. It's an unsafe plane (the MD11), but FedEx loves it because they are cheap to buy. Why is that? That's because the passenger airlines realized quickly that the MD11 was an accident waiting to happen. Plus, it never lived-up to the range and efficiency claims of it's manufacturer.

Our pilots didn't have to perish in the Tokyo accident, and I did pass along my condolences, including several long conversations with MD11 pilots I know very well. Guess what? They aren't that wild about the plane either, but they fly it because it's their job. It's pathetic that you don't understand any of that.

 

[Fedex Driver]

Nice to see MrFedex could pass along condolences when a UPS cargo plane went down. When it's Fedex it's all about the evil cost cutting tactics of the company. Pathetic but not surprising.

and the phony college degrees

 

[MrFedEx]

and the phony college degrees

Here come the clowns. My offer stands.