Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
Departing PHL during climb out Passing 6;000 ft. to 12;000 ft. we experienced heavy rain with moderate turbulence and possible hail that resulted on a cracked [right] windshield panel (First Officer window). The breakage of the window activated an ECAM message related to the window heat. QRH procedures were performed. Due to the broken outer windshield we decided to divert back to the departing airport (PHL) circumnavigating the weather on the west side an landing VFR on Runway 9R 20 minutes later. There was no need to request priority handling due to the fact the inner panel of the windshield was intact.[The] previous aircraft being vectored in front of us reported turbulence also; but there was no place to deviate [at] that point since ATC was vectoring us between two precipitation cells.I was flying a basic A319 with a basic radar. If our radar would be one of the enhanced newer 320 or 321 with an advance radar with a better resolution we would have avoided this high precipitation and moderate turbulence area.
Radar vectors on climb out from PHL runway 09L. Climbing through 6000 feet; given vector following previously departing traffic through a gap in two weather systems. Assigned climb to 12000 feet; previous departing aircraft ahead of us reported moderate turbulence on climb out. Shortly afterwards encountered moderate turbulence and the right windscreen cracked; accompanied by a failure of the right windscreen anti ice system. FO visibility not impaired through right windscreen. Exited the weather and leveled off at 12000. Requested descent to 10000 and vectors back to PHL. Completed ECAM actions and QRH follow ups; contacted dispatch and PHL operations. Coordinated with ATC to descend and vector around the backside of the weather to the west and returned to PHL 09R.[The] weather in the terminal area south east of the airport developed faster than expected. The weather radar in the older 319s does not have the same fidelity and clarity that the newer aircraft weather radar systems have.
A319 flight crew reported a windshield crack that resulted in a return to the departure airport.