B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 113; Flight Crew Total 15214; Flight Crew Type 12232
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
During cruise at FL380 and 5 hours into the flight the autopilot tripped off along with the MCP completely blank. The MCP panel had no numbers displayed or background lights. The MCP panel would flicker on and off. Advised ATC. Dispatch and maintenance [were] contacted. Emergency authority was used to cycle circuit breakers with Maintenance guidance. The systems were restored.
B737 Captain experienced a MCP failure at FL380 causing the autopilot to disconnect. Maintenance is contacted and a circuit breaker reset restores the MCP to normal operation.