B747-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 19000; Flight Crew Type 5000
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
During cockpit preflight I discovered a 1.5 inch crack in the forward cockpit windshield L1. Also there was signs of moisture ingress and a burn mark; possibly due to inner layer arcing. We reported this to Maintenance and the Maintenance Supervisor subsequently decided to take the aircraft out of service. This caused a 2.5 hour delay. My longstanding concern is that Maintenance is not adequately inspecting the cockpit windows for defects. Had we not noticed it; this aircraft would have crossed the Pacific with non-deferrable defects. As I have reported on many occasions in the past; company mechanics do no appear to have adequate knowledge of window defects; nor does there appear to be an adequate inspection process to catch potential safety hazards such as this one between major maintenance events. Is this being done purposely to enhance dispatch reliability or is it an issue of inadequate maintenance training?
B747-400 Captain reports discovering a 1.5 inch crack in the forward windshield with burn marks during preflight and believes that Maintenance is not adequately inspecting the windshields.