Boeing is talking to potential customers about developing a passenger version of the MD-10, as it considers accelerating the cargo-led programme by up to three months.
US express carrier FedEx is so far the only customer for the MD-10 conversion of the DC-10, with orders and options for 120. The programme involves installing the two-crew advanced common flightdeck - effectively the Honeywell cockpit from the MD-11. Ex-passenger aircraft acquired by FedEx are also undergoing cargo conversion.
"There are over 200 DC-10s available for conversion, so we'd like to think there is more interest in this for the long term," says MD-10 advanced common flightdeck programme manager Sam Williams. Boeing is studying the development of a passenger-only MD-10, to attract the interest of key DC-10 operators such as Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines, both of which have retained tri-jet fleets. Williams says there has been some "interest" in a passenger version.
Meanwhile, Williams says that the company hopes to "shave some time" off the certification schedule, targeted for next June.
Reasons for the acceleration include better than expected progress in the flight test effort, which is roughly half way through the 800h programme, as well as good support from major suppliers, including AlliedSignal, Honeywell and Sundstrand.
Given progress to date, Williams says certification "could be as early as the first quarter". The exact reduction in the programme will not become clear until at least September, when the second aircraft, a converted FedEx DC-10-30F, is established in the flight test programme.
This aircraft, T-2, is expected to enter the programme at the end of August. It will join the first MD-10, T-1, at Williams Gateway Airport, Arizona, which is being used as the base for test operations.
The manufacturer says the accelerated completion of the flight test work also means that the third test aircraft, T-3, may not be needed for the programme as planned. Aircraft T-3, which Williams says "is being held in reserve", will be used to refine configuration changes that will "help to improve reliability in-service".
Source: Flight International
