We are a cruel breed in engineering!!!!:D

No, it’s character building, all part of continuous improvement. 😀

Incredible! Where do these people get the energy and time to do complain. They must have literally nothing else to do. 😮

Yes, I would have thought that after the A380 mess, Airbus wiould want the A350 to come out roughly on time. Also, they’d have the benefit of learning from Boeing’s experience with the 787.

I believe people said the same of Boeing over the A380 production problems. 😀

Whilst admittedly they will only produce a small number per month (179 deliveries over 13 years = 1.14/month, though I’m not sure its at an even rate, i.e. I suspect they will slow production towards the end of the period), there is a long term need to replace around 450 tankers in the US forces, which is likely to lead to follow on orders for the contract winner. Also don’t forget that 179 aircraft is roughly equal to the 25% of the total 767’s built over the last 28 years, so this is still not insignificant. Furthermore, the re-engineering being done on the aircraft probably means Boeing will hope to sell it elsewhere too.

If they streamline the process, presumably they will be reducing the space of the line, giving them more room for the B747/B787/B787. If the output will decrease on the B767 line, they can reduce man power and assign it to other aircraft lines. The aircraft could also been constructed at a commercial rate, and then stored before being converted into the tanker configuration.

Beat me to it.

Sadly, it’s a slow process in getting the civil fleet up to spec.

Not so slow at all. it is a requirement per EU OPS 1 Subpart K (1.665) and
JAA TGL12.

An interesting insight there Galdri. 🙂

They may be dated in their original date of production but are very much currently in production and hence kept upto date by specialists who will include safety enhancements for the modern later variants that can be recommended/deemed vital for older aircraft models/variants.
The MD-11 is 9 years post cessation of production and unless Boeing choose to uphold developments and safety enhancements for it – it is unfortunately condemmed to the modern consumerist approach of being ‘scrappage’ or used in countries where aircraft safety isn’t of paramount importance.

Any aircraft (whether in-production or out-of-production) that holds a valid type-certificate – CAA: FA 69, FAA: A22WE – maintained by a design organisation – in this case, Boeing – are subject to the rules for the continuing airworthiness and maintenance of aircraft.

As flightmech has said, the MD-11 has been subject to numerous upgrades and additions over the years. You also have to remember that the MD-11 was ahead of the B777 in terms of computer/systems integration. In fact, I believe the MD-11 is more Airbus-like in that regard.

Has there been any more facts released on this accident?