The MD-11 is primarily used for cargo operations and not passengers due to a combination of economic factors, performance issues that made it less competitive for passenger airlines, and characteristics that are highly valued by cargo carriers.
Reasons for Decline in Passenger Service
Inefficient Trijet Configuration: The MD-11's three-engine design became economically unviable for passenger airlines after the relaxation of ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) regulations. ETOPS allowed more fuel-efficient, twin-engine aircraft (like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330) to fly long-haul, over-ocean routes with lower fuel and maintenance costs.
Failure to Meet Advertised Performance: The aircraft did not meet its original advertised range and fuel-burn targets, requiring some passenger flights to make unscheduled fuel stops or carry less payload. This was a major drawback for airlines like Singapore Airlines, which canceled their orders.
Challenging Handling Characteristics: The MD-11's smaller horizontal tail surface, designed for efficiency, reportedly made it more challenging to land, contributing to some incidents and potentially higher pilot training costs.
Negative Reputation: As an update to the DC-10, the MD-11 inherited some of the former's negative reputation, despite design improvements.
Reasons for Success in Cargo Service
Low Acquisition Cost: After passenger airlines phased out their MD-11s, cargo carriers were able to acquire them at significantly reduced prices. This low capital cost outweighed the aircraft's higher fuel burn for freighter operations.
Favorable Payload Capacity: The MD-11 has a high maximum takeoff weight and a good payload-to-volume ratio, making it well-suited for carrying dense cargo.
Operational Suitability: Cargo operations often involve less time in the air compared to long-haul passenger routes, making the MD-11's fuel inefficiency less of a primary concern.
Availability of Airframes: The large number of used passenger MD-11s available for conversion provided a ready supply of aircraft for cargo companies like FedEx and UPS to convert into dedicated freighters.
In essence, the MD-11 was economically outcompeted by newer, more efficient twin-engine jets for passenger service but found a second life as a workhorse in the cargo industry due to its strong structural capabilities and low purchase price
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