Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Total 27200
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
As some of our older A320 family aircraft come of age I am encountering more delaminating or bubbling forming along the edge of cockpit windows. 20 years or so I had an A320 window internally catch fire during cruise at night between the window plies at the window heating element due to window delamination. On postflight I noticed that this particular aircraft had delamination hazing starting along the edge of the L3 window; for which an AML (Aircraft Maintenance Log) entry was made to have checked; and was found to be within limits. I have been told over the years by Maintenance that so long as the delamination is less than 3 inches wide and not within the direct field of view it is within limits. I have never run across a window even close to those limits. However; I thought my write-ups would [have at] least put the window on some sort of a monitor or watch list. I am told by Maintenance Control that is not the case. Furthermore; there is no way for a pilot to know if the window has already been written up in the past. In short; it would be helpful to have additional preflight guidance; similar to the preflight limitations we have for tires; to know what the window delamination/hazing limits are. As well as guidance on if and when an AML entry is appropriate. Perhaps an entry could also be made to the aircraft damage report once a window has been reviewed and found to be within limits to avoid repeat write-ups.
A320 Captain reported the flight deck crew needs window delamination limits and guidance on when to enter the damaged window into the logbook.