UPS MD-11 crash at SDF

Rather interesting that they "post dated" the MD11 retirement back to last year with this announcment. They were keeping crews current in the sim until today. Just goes to show you how much power the bean counters have. Someone in accounting decided that saying the MD11 was retired last year would look best on the books and they made it so.
 
WacoFan said:
People actually argued with my characterization of employees as motor oil.
Click to expand...
I learned that big brown was the devil when I worked for a feeder. They do not care about human life other than in how it moves the bottom line. Not that any of the others are any better, but little companies have the advantage of the leadership having to look you in the eyes while they •ed you. Small companies are often just as crooked, but there's something particularly evil about pretty much all organizations when they get above a critical mass of employees because of the abstraction between people and process. I couldn't tell you where that line is, but "motor oil" is exactly right. And before people misconstrue this as some dig at UPS, it's not - they're not really any different than any other shop. Your job will never love you back because you are motor oil, and do we care how much oil we burn? Only when it's causing problems elsewhere or may lead to issues elsewhere.

During peak I remember some young guy with a bull horn yelling at little old ladies to unload a truck "FASTER FASTER!" Peak is right, peak absurdity.
 
What sets UPS apart is it's a trucking company with airplanes (Fedex started as an airline and then got trucks). It's a completely different corporate mindset compared to a major pax airline. The biggest change I saw over the years was when the company went public. When it was private, there was accountability cause the managers owned the company. Once they went public, that was the start of them becoming just another large corporation run by bean counters.
 
That mean the MDs are going to be scrapped in place, wherever it is they are parked? There’s no fix for the issue yet, and even if there was, does it make sense cost wise to make a major modification/repair in the field, only for a one time flight to a boneyard (assuming the rest of the MDs follow suit). However if the rest of the MDs somehow get cleared to fly and UPS decides to sell theirs, then I guess that cost would get passed on.
 
They might be able to sweet talk the FAA into issuing one time ferry permits, maybe with some sort of super duper engine mount inspection?
 
MikeD said:
That mean the MDs are going to be scrapped in place, wherever it is they are parked? There’s no fix for the issue yet, and even if there was, does it make sense cost wise to make a major modification/repair in the field, only for a one time flight to a boneyard (assuming the rest of the MDs follow suit). However if the rest of the MDs somehow get cleared to fly and UPS decides to sell theirs, then I guess that cost would get passed on.
Click to expand...
The FAA didn't give up on Boeing and the MD, UPS did. UPS and FedEX can ground their fleets but I'd suspect that if a solution to the current issue is approved they'll happily sell the airplanes to someone further down the chain. And that's why South Florida is known for shady aviation operations. Or maybe they'll all just rot where they sit. If I was a betting man I'd venture the MD-11s will be flying again. Probably with different paint jobs.
 
knot4u said:
The FAA didn't give up on Boeing and the MD, UPS did. UPS and FedEX can ground their fleets but I'd suspect that if a solution to the current issue is approved they'll happily sell the airplanes to someone further down the chain. And that's why South Florida is known for shady aviation operations. Or maybe they'll all just rot where they sit. If I was a betting man I'd venture the MD-11s will be flying again. Probably with different paint jobs.
Click to expand...
I dunno.

I'm not sure Boeing or the FAA are willing to risk it on certifying her to fly again (since they both have impeccable reputations right now). I mean, at this point, it's 32 airplanes. That's a lot of liability for just 32 of them. I also worry that whatever the fix is will be found cost-prohibitive by both operators.

For now, I'm just wondering who is going to blink first.

I fear I've flown my last flight in the MD-11.
 
ERfly said:
I dunno.

I'm not sure Boeing or the FAA are willing to risk it on certifying her to fly again (since they both have impeccable reputations right now). I mean, at this point, it's 32 airplanes. That's a lot of liability for just 32 of them. I also worry that whatever the fix is will be found cost-prohibitive by both operators.

For now, I'm just wondering who is going to blink first.

I fear I've flown my last flight in the MD-11.
Click to expand...
You might be correct. My point is the FAA and Boeing will eventually find a fix and UPS and FedEx will probably say "That's going to cost too much and we're not going to fly these things anymore.". The problem is they own those airplanes and they are going to try to maximize every last cent they can get from those airplanes for the shareholders. If/when a repair/modification is approved the hulls recoup some of their value and lesser known operators will snap them up post haste. I doubt FedEx or UPS will operate a MD-11 again but I'd imagine they'll still end up flying somewhere for someone. If Boeing turns their back on this whole thing it'd be a horrible optic moving forward, is the 757 next?
 
Maximilian_Jenius said:
Looks like the replacement for the 11, will be the 76? 🥱 And not the 777? 😡
Click to expand...

For UPS, I would venture it's all the 76s they can get, FedEx is a bit different, as they already have triples on the certificate. Also, UPS has been using them on routes 76s could fill for years. FedEx still uses them internationally. Or, you know, dark horse possibility...
 

Attachments

  • received_2344851042687613.webp
    received_2344851042687613.webp
    905.3 KB · Views: 31
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top