A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
In cruise flight at FL370 I noticed in the First Officer's windshield what appeared to be St. Elmos fire. This was curious since we were in clear air. Further inspection revealed what appeared to be a crack quickly developing from the upper right corner down to the lower left corner. Inside the crack; what I thought was St. Elmos Fire; was the inner heating element arcing continuously as the crack quickly spread. The best way to describe this was watching a fuse burn across and within the windshield.  We quickly went to the QRH for guidance and just as we opened it up the right windshield heat faulted shutting off power. The First officer and I tried to determine which pane it was and in more than one spot I felt what appeared to be a crack by sliding my finger nail back and forth across the area. We descended to FL230 and got the cabin PSI to less than 5; per the QRH; but the crack continued to spread across the glass. Further descent to 11;000 FT seemed to halt its spread but now I felt the safest course of action was to get the airplane on the ground. We contacted Dispatch through ACARS to inform them of our intentions to divert. We finished QRH procedures for windshield crack and arcing and landed uneventfully. No emergency was declared. ATC was very helpful expediting our arrival and the First Officer and our cabin crew did an outstanding job of working the problem and preparing the cabin as I flew the airplane. This allowed me to concentrate on the approach and airport facilities. Under the circumstances I felt this to be the safest course of actions for the given conditions.
A319 Captain reports a cracked windshield on the First Officer's side at FL370. Descent is initiated to FL230 per QRH but the crack continues to grow and the Captain elects to divert to a suitable airport.