The McDonnell Douglas (MDC) DC-10 freighter/upgrade programme for FedEx is on schedule, according to the carrier's chairman, Frederick Smith. The project to rework the aircraft, known as the MD-10, has been unaffected by Boeing's recent take-over of MDC.
The two-phase programme, which first involves the freighter conversion, and later the installation of a two-crew Honeywell Advanced Common Flightdeck (ACF) "glass cockpit", is being managed by Boeing, which inherited the role from MDC. Smith says that he has had assurances from Boeing officials that it is "-firmly committed" to the project.
FedEx will have 59 DC-10s converted - 25 of 36 ex-United Airlines DC-10-10s, and 12 DC-10-10s and 22 DC-10-30s which it already operates. The remaining 11 ex-United aircraft, along with 17 DC-10s being acquired from American, will be converted "-as market forces dictate", says FedEx.
The first of 15 aircraft, which will undergo an interim conversion just to freighter configuration, went into revenue service in November, and a further five are now being worked on. Cargo conversions are being under taken by Dimension Aviation in Goodyear, Alabama, Pemco in Dothan, Alabama, and Aeronavali in Italy.
A flight-test aircraft, an in-service DC-10-30, will be upgraded with the ACF in 1998, and testing will begin in late 1998. Certification is expected in May 1999.
Source: Flight International
