FedEx, UPS Call Time On MD-11 Fleets

MD-11 = POS

Many FedEx/UPS volunteered to fly the Orbis DC10 with an onboard surgery room for eye operations. Lives have been changed by these pilots and the volunteer surgeons and nurses. Hats off to those airmen! I hope Orbis can continue their mission.

Was in one of the first classes at FedEx to check out on the MD-11 back in 1990 since we were the launch customer. It was the first glass cockpit plane at FedEx, and it was quite a step going from round dials to glass cockpits. Most senior pilots didn't bid it because they wanted to see how everyone else did in training. It had like a 30% failure rate in training at first because it was such new technology. We all got through it and now it makes me feel old that a plane that was once new is now heading to the graveyard. That was somehow 33 years ago, and now I'm 70 years old in the pilot boneyard retired. Time flys and so do planes.

At age 76, just about every airplane I ever flew is in the bone yard (except the T-38). End of an era.... all of us.

this is outrageous.

There is a guy who films Tampa international airport says that he is going to miss the heavy tri howlers and to be honest to you all that I am going miss them too. this is starting and it is the end of an era for the tri jets.

I started my ATC career at Long Beach (KLGB) when the MD-11s were first rolling off the line. I already feel old being retired myself, but this story makes me feel older.

Flew business cloass JoBurg to New York on World Airways ill advised MD11 service some years ago. Nice enough aircraft but Business Class was a joke. Had better EVERYTHING on some charter flights.
Not surprised the route failed after a couple of months.

The "Diesel 10" may have had a rocky start, but turned out to be a solid cargo bird. I flew several when I was in service, and never had a second thought the soundness of the plane. By the way, refering to AA 191, that is a good example of what happens when a wrench turner tries to cut a corner. The good ole' USAF has not had a problem with their KC-10s have they?

Spent many an hour in one. Was sad to hear they are leaving the fleet.

Stating a preference here: DC-10/MD-11 is one of the most beautiful machines ever built. The girl your friends thought was ugly but you saw differently and were better for seeing it your way. To be replaced by 767’s, a dull tube, is a sad thing imo.

I've flown DC-10's many times in the past, but I can never see a DC-10 or MD-11 w/o thinking about the American 191 crash at ORD in 1979.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines_Flight_191

They are very old aircraft... Surprised that they have not timed out before now... It is not that they cannot be maintained Airworthy, but rather the cost of the required maintenance for Aging A/C is is that they are no longer profitable to fly. A Very sad day to see all of them Parked from Both Fleets.