Flight Deck Windows Damage Description

(a) Arcing: An electrical arc is a discharge or short circuit across a discontinuity in a wire, bus bar, conductive heating
film, or other internal window components. Arcs usually occur near the window bus bars, and are typically the result of
moisture ingress. The heat from an arc can cause dark brown or black burn marks on the bus bar and in the interlayer or
fracture a glass pane. It is also possible to see small bubbles in the interlayer at the location of an arc. Arcs in the heating
film away from the bus bar can occur as a jagged line and is also known as a line arc

(b) Crack: A crack is a break or discontinuity of the material. A list of descriptions of cracks by material follows

© Delamination: Delamination is the separation of a pane or panes from the interlayer internal to the window.
Delamination looks like an air bubble that starts from the edge, is flat, smooth, and has a circular edge. Delaminations
can have an edge with smooth finger-like projections. The delamination will cause a reflection of light when you look at
it from an angle to the surface of the window. A delamination can distort vision through the delaminated area.

(d) Moisture Ingression: A cloudy white or yellow haze internal to the window usually around the periphery. It can
follow wires internal to the window, along the bus bar and also in areas of delamination. Long term exposure to
moisture can lead to electrical arcing of the heating system internal to the window.

(e) Bubbles: Small isolated or irregular shaped voids in the interlayer internal to the window not at the window edge.
Bubbles can be the result of a damaged window heat control system. Multiple bubbles together in a small group, or
black or darkbrown bubbles are an indication of a damaged window heat control system

Window Vision Terms

1) Clear View Area (Daylight Opening or DLO): The transparent area of the window for external vision.
2) Critical Vision Area: The area of primary vision through the window that does not include the Non-Critical Vision Area.

3) Decreased Visual Quality: A reduction of vision through the clear view area, which can cause interference with the
flight crew visual operations of the aircraft in the air or on the ground. Damage to the window can result in decreased
visual quality.

4) Non-Critical Vision Area: A 2.0 in. (5.1 cm) band around the periphery of the window measured into the clear view
area.

5) Tong Marks: Small dimples or indentations that are sometimes on the surface of the window non-structural outer
glass panes and cause local distortion in the clear view area. These are a by-product of the manufacturing procedure.

6) Visual Quality: The property of the window that allows visual operation of the aircraft in the air or on the ground.
Current Status
Window inspected for delamination as per task AMM Task 56-12-11-216-015.

AMM recommends to replace the window if the delamination decreases the visual quality.

Decreased Visual Quality: A reduction of vision through the clear view area, which can cause interference
with the flight crew visual operations of the aircraft in the air or on the ground. Damage to the window can
result in decreased visual quality.

The recommended limit for windows with a delamination is 2.0 in. (50.8mm) from the edge of the window
frame.

The delamination is arount 2 inches in width and lies in the non critical vision Area. It is recommended to
mark the delaminated area and observed after specific pressurization cycles if the trend is increasing it is
recommended to replace the window.

For Arcing Test it is recommended to take comments from Avionics Engineer.