MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
I was flying the aircraft. At approximately 110 KTS my airspeed and Flight Director became unreliable. I continued flying the aircraft [but] transferred control to the First Officer just after gear retraction as his instruments were normal. [The potential for this] malfunction [had been] briefed as the CADC on the Captain's side had just been replaced. Normal checklists were run and we continued to 10;000 MSL. At this point the First Officer had control of the radio and I worked the Loss of Airspeed Suspected [checklist] with the Relief Pilot. After the checklist was complete I sent an ACARS divert message and called Flight Control. Flight Control got hold of Maintenance and we all came to the conclusion we should return to our departure airport. Due to our close proximity to the airport (10 miles) and that a divert message was sent and Flight Control knew of our intentions; an ARTR was not requested. Approach was notified of our malfunction and we stayed with Approach Control throughout our coordination with the ground agencies. Landing and block in were uneventful.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
An MD-11 returned to its departure airport following the failure of the Captain's CADC.