And once again it has happened to me. What am I missing? This usually happens not on the first flight after loading FSX, much more likely on the second or third. FD bars simply don't show up with no reason I'd be aware of. No matter how hard you hit buttons on the MCP, they will never ever get on again until reloading everything. Anyone seen this?? EDIT:Oh and another "nice" one is this... After takeoff, disable LNAV and switch off FDs. You should eventually come up with this: Cool eh?? And even better, cycling FD R on and off will switch between VNAV SPD and VNAV PTH back and forth. Now I wonder what's happening behind the scenes there. Interestingly enough, VNAV is deselectable by button push.

i take it ur got the fd on both to on

What do you mean. FDs were both on before commencing TO roll otherwise TOGA would've been unlikely beforehand.

Autopilot not engaged, select CMD A and FD bars will show up..

Autopilot not engaged, select CMD A and FD bars will show up..

I'm pretty sure I was able to fly the aircraft without CMD A but with the bars ?Maybe something wrong programmed in the FMC ?

Pitch and roll modes must be engaged for FD bars to show up, you can use CWS as well to bring em up..

Pitch and roll modes must be engaged for FD bars to show up, you can use CWS as well to bring em up..

They should be armed, but not necessarily engaged. I almost always handfly to TA (18000') using the FD.

Are you using TOGA mode to take off??

Are you using TOGA mode to take off??

Yes.

Are you using TOGA mode to take off??

works with and without togobut without togo you will see the bars only when vnav and lnav are activated (around 400AGL)

Maybe someone else can give you a better description, I use different climbout prodecures... Sorry I couldn't be more of help..

Autopilot not engaged, select CMD A and FD bars will show up..

That doesn't make any sense as this is exactly contrary to the purpose of the FD... They shall be there regardless of AP status, after all I need to see them, not the AP.

Pitch and roll modes must be engaged for FD bars to show up, you can use CWS as well to bring em up..

Well, and as you can clearly see by three green annunciations on the FMA, they are. That's the problem here, right? Anyways, anyone else seen this? Oh and yes, the FMS was set up correctly, and TOGA has been used for takeoff. Still this is irrelevant, as just the situation "active modes on FMA" + "FDs on" under pretty much normal conditions otherwise should definately show the bars.

And once again it has happened to me. What am I missing? This usually happens not on the first flight after loading FSX, much more likely on the second or third. FD bars simply don't show up with no reason I'd be aware of. No matter how hard you hit buttons on the MCP, they will never ever get on again until reloading everything. Anyone seen this?? EDIT:Oh and another "nice" one is this... After takeoff, disable LNAV and switch off FDs. You should eventually come up with this: Cool eh?? And even better, cycling FD R on and off will switch between VNAV SPD and VNAV PTH back and forth. Now I wonder what's happening behind the scenes there. Interestingly enough, VNAV is deselectable by button push.

In the top pic you are using the Honeywell MCP with both VNAV and LNAV selected.I think that is the problem. I am presuming you are using TOGA for takeoff ? The bottom pic is nothing unusual if you try and fly without FD's on. Fred.

Autopilot not engaged, select CMD A and FD bars will show up..

FD bars have nothing to do with autopilot being on or off !! Fred.

Flight Director DisplayTurning a F/D switch ON displays command bars on the respective pilot’s attitude indicator if command pitch and roll modes are engaged. If command pitch and roll modes are not engaged, the F/D command bars do not appear. The F/Ds can be operated with or without the A/P and A/T. F/D command modes can be used with an A/P engaged in CWS.F/D commands operate in the same command modes as the A/P except:•the takeoff mode is a F/D only mode•dual F/D guidance is available for single engine operation•the F/D has no landing flare capability. F/D command bars retract from view at approximately 50 feet RA on an ILS approach.•During a Fail Operational autoland flare with Flare engaged and Land 3 annunciated, F/D command bars center.Normally, FCC A drives the captain’s command bars and FCC B drives the first officer’s command bars. With both F/D switches ON, the logic for both pilots’ F/D modes is controlled by the master FCC, and both FMA displays show the same mode status.

Thanks guys for the input, although I'm still not quite satisfied.

In the top pic you are using the Honeywell MCP with both VNAV and LNAV selected.I think that is the problem. I am presuming you are using TOGA for takeoff ?

Sorry, I still don't see the problem. FMA indicates perfectly normal active modes for a climb. AP is off, FDs are on, I am in manual flight except for thrust. It should be perfectly possible to fly manually and follow FD guidance with the modes selected as indicated. Yes, TOGA was used for takeoff which is also nothing out of the ordinary. There is no difference with Honeywell/Collins in this regard at all.

The bottom pic is nothing unusual if you try and fly without FD's on.

I don't think so. Switching off FDs with AT and AP off shall disengage all active modes to my understanding. There can't be an active mode with AFDS completely off, that just makes no sense. VNAV simply can't be active (as indicated by FMA!) with the complete AFDS off. That makes no sense for any other mode and so I would think for VNAV. After all I have to rely to be able to reset the AFDS by switching it off. What if I'm on a manual visual circling and want to recycle FDs off and on to arm them for go around, but it doesn't clear the active modes? I'm not saying it does anything bad in this particular case here, I'm just saying it shouldn't be there as I understand the system.

Flight Director Display

Turning a F/D switch ON displays command bars on the respective pilot’s attitude indicator if command pitch and roll modes are engaged. Correct, is the case here, modes are engaged in both channels and AT.

If command pitch and roll modes are not engaged, the F/D command bars do not appear. See above, modes are active so doesn't apply.

The F/Ds can be operated with or without the A/P and A/T. That's what I'm trying to achieve.

F/D command modes can be used with an A/P engaged in CWS. True, but again, doesn't apply.

F/D commands operate in the same command modes as the A/P except:

•the takeoff mode is a F/D only mode True, no takeoff mode here

•dual F/D guidance is available for single engine operation No failures in this case, both engines quite healthy

•the F/D has no landing flare capability. F/D command bars retract from view at approximately 50 feet RA on an ILS approach. Quite not the conditions here

•During a Fail Operational autoland flare with Flare engaged and Land 3 annunciated, F/D command bars center.Normally, FCC A drives the captain’s command bars and FCC B drives the first officer’s command bars. With both F/D switches ON, the logic for both pilots’ F/D modes is controlled by the master FCC, and both FMA displays show the same mode status. Clearly no autoland, the only thing that applies is that FDs are controlled by FCC A here, correct