pylot, Check your PM

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about studying much before class. It's been several years since I initially trained on the MD, but I think the best thing you can do is your CBTs and leave it at that. Unless you just enjoy learning about new aircraft or have a lot of spare time on your hands, you'll learn all you need in training.

The course is very long as it is, don't make it longer...

I am in MD11 Transition training now. I am part of the "Small Group Trials". Re: MD-11.org the systems information appears accurate, however the flows are definitely not Purple.

The new training philosophy is that we do not need to be able to build the airplane. Systems ground school is presented from this prospective. LMS, I found it to be sadly lacking. Re: Study notes...the "old" (Dec2011) are more complete than the "new" (Jan2012) version. I suggest using the the old ones because they help tie everything together. You can also visit FedEx Office and purchase note cards. They are mostly accurate (some limitations have changed). Cost about $35, worth it in MHO.

Another change with the new program...No Laptops to study with.

Get a head start, and be ready to hang on for the ride, much more than drinking from a fire hose.

PM if you want more info.

Try this site also,

SmartCockpit - McDonnell Douglas MD-11

I mostly used it for the systems questions....

I believe MD-11.org is by a UPS manager/check airman.

Thank you guys for all the pm's and advice. I really appreciate it all. It's hard sorting out a big box of manuals that came in the mail. It's even harder preparing to leave my family for the 3 month Memphis sabbatical.

They will get over it when the check comes in. ;)

Seriously, Walk in the door already knowing the Boldface and Limitation section.

Just be aware that you are going to the training program that has been identified by both the NTSB and FAA as having the worst accident rate per NM flown. MD permanent grounding just one accident away for Fed EX.... fact

Flail away at me instead of on the controls......:)

Permanent grounding??!! That would be a nice
long vacation. Fact...

The trick with flying the MD-11 is that it's is an easy airplane to fly, but can be a difficult airplane to fly well if you let things get away from you. It always reminded me of coming aboard the boat in that there is little room for error. Your coming from the right seat of the 727 and that's a solid foundation. You MUST land the Maddog on centerline with little to no drift and in the correct landing attitude. Once you've compleated the flare and assuming your on speed you've just entered the world of carrier aviation. Power controls the glideslope while nose controls the airspeed. If your not on speed, then these two rules are reversed. This is drilled into every Navy/Marine corp carrier aviatior one day one. Our training department just figured this out about 3-4years ago. In the old days MD-11 students were taught that at 50 feet when the autothrottles would start to retard to let them come back to idle and manage the flare. Your just asking for a tailstrike or something worse. So when it comes time to land in the flare grab those throttles and fly the airplane just like you do on the 727, an F-14, a Cessna 150 or any other airplane. Do this and you too can learn to grease them on, even an Airbus, I've flown them all. Good luck with training. It's a big mountain taken one bite at a time.