Originally Posted by
Martinair
Isn't the MD-11 stabilizer only 2/3's of the original DC-10 stab size?
That's why LSAS was incorporated for Longitudinal Stabilisation.
Furthermore the deployment of Thrustreverser #2 also will create an ANU pitch when the Groundspoilers + Reversethrust is applied. This requires a violent control yoke push. If you try to land an empty MD-11 without this violent push you'll be cracking some tailfeathers upon groundspoiler deployment.
Furthermore, take the time to rollout and never make bets with the Capt to clear the runway sooner than the a/c can handle. The violent vibrations on the CLG brakes (caused by the autobrake) can shorten the lifetime of the CLG hardware or even fail during landing like Alitalia did.
I would disagree with your characterization that the pitch up required a "violent control yoke push". I would certainly agree that it required some conscious pitch management, however. And again, a software adjustment took care of 90% of the problem. The MD-11 (with the newer software load; I wish I could remember the load number that incorporated the change. 912?) is not a terribly difficult airplane to land even if it is empty/light.