The two recent accidents, LH and FX we have been discussing, happened to airlines who are well up the league table in terms of pay and conditions. Maybe the aircraft needs to be treated like Concorde with additional selection and presumably rewards for those who are above average within the company.
Many airlines have operated this aircraft sucussfully, no need for above average skills. Just a respect for the aircraft. FDX operates the largest fleet of type. A pilot's job is to know how his/her aircraft fly's. FDX performs more takeoff's and landings in the MD-11 every day than any other airline. Hope I have drilled the fact home that any complacent pilot is subject to disaster and that odd's are that "**** happens"!
A large contributing factor to pilot error with the MD-11 is pilot's who expect it to perform like others they have flown, the main one here was a pilot who did NOT respect his aircraft and pushed it's limits over the edge......