Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During cruise flight at FL 350 the left windshield began arcing in the upper right corner and simultaneously cracked/shattered the outer and possibly the middle pane(s). The flight deck crew immediately donned oxygen masks; declared an emergency and requested an emergency descent with center. The Emergency Descent IAI; Emergency Descent QRH procedure; Cracked Windshield; and Manual Pressurization Control procedures were followed. The emergency descent was performed at near the same airspeed as when the cracking/shattering of the windshield occurred resulting in a rate of descent of less than 2;000 FPM. Present position direct [to a suitable airport] was requested from center. The cabin crew was informed of the descent and to expect the oxygen masks to deploy before the oxygen masks were deployed. As time permitted the passengers were briefed as to what had happened and what actions the flight crew were taking to insure their safety. Flight Control and Maintenance Control were contacted and briefed. Reaching 10;000 feet the flight attendants and passengers were advised that supplemental oxygen was no longer required. The remainder of the flight was performed using normal procedures modified to provide a comfortable rate of descent that did not exceed 700 FPM. With the only exception being the final approach segment where that rate of descent never exceeded 900 FPM.
A CRJ-700 flight crew declared an emergency; executed a controlled emergency descent; and diverted to a suitable airport when the Captain's windshield arced and then shattered at FL350.