Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
The First Officer was flying and I was pilot not flying. As we were passing 10;500 in the climb we heard a loud bang and saw that the Captain's side windshield had completely shattered. We informed ATC and stopped our climb and slowed down. The First Officer continued to fly the aircraft as I ran the associated QRH. Given that the damage to the windshield was extensive and as we were not sure if it might get worse we decided to air return to our departure airport as the safest option. I declared an emergency and informed ATC of our intentions then briefed the Flight Attendant made a PA to the passengers and informed Dispatch via ACARS. We then set up for the approach and ran the in-range and landing checklists. We also reviewed the overweight landing technique. Since it was the Captain's side windshield that shattered I chose to have the First Officer land the aircraft since he had clear visibility out his windshield and I did not. First Officer McBee made an outstanding landing on centerline; in the touchdown zone at 100 FPM decent on the VSI at touchdown. We taxied to the gate where we deplaned the passengers; worked with Operations to get their bags off and then repositioned the aircraft to allow inbound flights to use the gate. I then contacted Dispatch; Maintenance; and the Chief Pilot's office. After the flight we did a thorough inspection for any sign of bird-strike and found none. I later spoke to the Flight Attendant who said they had heard the windshield shatter in the cabin but the passengers had remained calm throughout.
When the Captain's side window shattered at about 10;500 MSL on the climbout the flight crew of an E-145 opted to return to their departure airport for maintenance.