Hi FolksNewbie here , I've been flying the pmdg MD-11 for a while now & enjoying every minute of it but one thing that confuses me is the service ceiling for the bird.basically I'm trying to find out the service ceiling, I use fs commander(v8.6) to plan my flights , When I select the aircraft I want to fly in this case the MD-11 the maximum height it will allow me fly is between FL290 - FL310 & the aircraft ceiling is fl350, but flying the tutorials I fly at FL370 & watching some videos on the net I see folk flying higher again.Do other folk using FS Commander(V8.6) to plan flights for the PMDG MD-11 , Do you have this problem.What is the Official service ceiling of the MD-11btw currently on p45 of 436 of the flight crew operating manual :)Thanks in advancePaul Nicholls

It depends on weight but its max ceiling is 42000ft .... I think Lee Marrow

The FMC will display the Optimal and Maximum operating altitude based on your current Gross Weight and Cost Index.

The maximum flight level to fly is FL430, though max. certified is 43'200ft.Anyway this is hardly ever flown on daily operations as the MD-11 flies best low and fast. Departing at MTOW your optimum flight level will be FL290 or 300 initially.Regards,Markus

Cost index will affect your max flight level. Try settings around 70-80 and see if your optimum FL increases.

as the MD-11 flies best low and fast.

Really? I have never heard this for any other airliner ever. IIRC it's always been said that the higher, even if only for a short period of time, the better and more economic. But I might be mistaken... :(

Low as in a relative term as in below FL400. I don't think you'll see the FMS provide an OPT flight level above FL400 very often. I recall the old C-141 Starlifters rarely got above FL340, and I suspect that the C-17 may have the same attribute.

Low as in a relative term as in below FL400. I don't think you'll see the FMS provide an OPT flight level above FL400 very often. I recall the old C-141 Starlifters rarely got above FL340, and I suspect that the C-17 may have the same attribute.

Oh sorry, I guess I missed the link to the service ceiling of FL430 which had been mentioned in the sentence before. :( Yeah ok, so low compared to "really high"...

I don't use the MD-11 for most of my ocean crossings (maybe I should), but I have seen the 744 project optimal altitude north of FL400 before. Plane has to be approaching fumes though.

Like others have said, it depends on weight, distance, and cost index. I've noticed on FlightAware that altitude varies and it seems the shorter the flight (less fuel), the higher they are flying. Here are a couple UPS42 VHHH-PANC @ FL310 and FDX147 KMEM-PANC @ FL400 Both flights were with MD-11's.

GentsIn the real world, airlines are in the business of generating revenue, that means we operate at the most cost economical flight level and speed based on the individual cost index for the sector we are flying. Often, due to ATC restrictions they might ask to fly higher/lower and/or faster/slower that we ideally like to based on the ECON Cost Index. When you get close to your MAX ALT, be carefull as you will have a smaller Manouvre Margin to play around with just in case unforseen circumstances like turbulence etc.Palle Jensen