B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Human Factors
Immediately after takeoff above 400 feet AGL; the First Officer's Flight Director bars disappeared. Turned off then on; but no bars still. Started the right turn on the departure and cleaned up the aircraft normally. Captain (pilot monitoring) suggested to engage the AP. Did; and the FD bars re-appeared; corrected back to course and continued the departure. Was left of the magenta line to the first point on the departure; but it calls for a right turn direct about 520 feet AGL; which was complied with. NORCAL handed us to Oakland ARTCC and the flight continued. Right FD operated normally for the rest of the flight; however; made a Maintenance logbook entry as it did momentarily fail.Strangely after 15 years of instruction to remove automation if need be; this time; by adding automation; the system corrected itself.
B767-300 First Officer reported losing the Flight Director command bars shortly after takeoff; but regaining them when the autopilot was turned on.