UPS MD-11 crash at SDF

Are these down-status MDs, especially the ones stuck remote somewhere, at least getting started up and run for a bit just to keep systems working, or no?
 
MikeD said:
Are these down-status MDs, especially the ones stuck remote somewhere, at least getting started up and run for a bit just to keep systems working, or no?
Click to expand...
Idk about FedEx or WGA but Brown was doing that initially to avoid a lot of problems when they entered service again. Since they’ve wrapped them up for long term storage idk.
 
N1 on ENG 3 didn’t drop like ENG 2 does
IMG_4482.jpeg
 
MikeD said:
Are these down-status MDs, especially the ones stuck remote somewhere, at least getting started up and run for a bit just to keep systems working, or no?
Click to expand...
They had power on one in SJU doing some kind of routine mx maybe three weeks ago? OTOH, there are six or seven sitting in front of the hangar in SDF that look pretty static.
 
I’ll always wonder if they had gotten that thing to fly would they have made it around the pattern or at the very least back to 11 with the fire on the left wing. I’d like to think so but…
 
Short term storage and long term storage are very different. For long term storage many fluids may need to be drained and a preservative fluid run through the system, be it engine/apu oil, fuel or hydraulic fluid. I was very busy during the pandemic, not only because everyone decided to get their big inspections done while the airplanes weren't flying, but because the folks that wanted their airplanes sitting idle but also still ready to go needed weekly runs. I'd spend whole days doing nothing but pulling covers, running engines and exercising as many systems as possible on the ground on multiple airplanes. I don't know anything about a MD-11 but I'd guess if they're all taped up like they're sitting in a boneyard they've been prepped for long term storage and it will take a bit of work to get them flying again if/when that time comes.
 
I can tell you we ran the scenario in the sim last week with the same results. We gradually stepped up our altitude before rolling back number 2 and it wasn't till we had 900ft beneath us that we were able to get enough energy on the plane through a gradual descent of 200ft/min. We were able to stop the descent at roughly 280ft agl before being able to gradually climb and get ourselves into a stable situation. That's of course knowing what's coming and having multiple attempts to get it right through the step ups in altitude.
 
The contract provides pay protection for the MD11 guys. UPS is always allowed to use contractors over peak per the contract and emergencies. I'm not sure about the status of contractors now but seeing a lot of complaints about scheduling practices into the gray areas and new gray areas are being created. Until the decision is made on the MD status they don't want to start training those pilots on other equipment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top