B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Aircraft
There is a trend with 737 windshields in that they no longer repel water when operating in rain. In addition; multiple aircraft I've flown have window crazing exacerbating the visual distortion in rain. In the past; I have contacted Maintenance and completed write ups which all resulted in being told there is no mitigation for this. Upon doing some research I learned Boeing used to have; and may still have; a procedure for applying Rain X to the windows. In the interest of safety; I'd like to suggest crazing be polished out of windows in accordance with Boeing's procedures; and some sort of hydrophobic coating be applied. It can be argued that windshields should be written up prior to accepting an aircraft; but there are two reasons this argument doesn't stand. First; a crew may fly an aircraft from an area with no rain to an area with rain and not realize the windows don't allow for adequate visibility until in the landing phase; and second; because I've attempted to rectify this numerous times either with Maintenance or through the reporting process with no changes being made. As far as writing an aircraft up after an event; I know there won't be anything done about it from past experience.
Air carrier First Officer reported the B737 windshields no longer repel water when operating in rain.