B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 347
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Weather
Upon breaking out of the cloud base in moderate rain; the visibility with wipers on high was terrible. All images were nothing more than a blur. Runway lights were a scattered blur! It was very difficult to discern the approach lighting system; the runway edge lights and taxiway lights. Runway and taxiway markings were all but impossible to see. The 'rain repellent qualities' of theses windshields are nonexistent! My experience with our old aircraft equipped with rain repellent is that one press of the button would have provided a crystal clear windshield. This reduced windshield visibility in rain is an additive condition that is obviously degrading Safety. In retrospect; with a 900 ft. ceiling and six miles visibility; we should have diverted to an alternate because of inadequate visibility through the windshield in rain. If something can be done to improve the rain repellent qualities of these windshields; we need to do it.
B737-800 flight crew reported ineffective windshield wiper system; resulting in difficulty seeing the runway when landing.