B787 Dreamliner Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Time Pressure; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Aircraft X; at cruise FL380; instantaneous very loud complete shattering of window L1 Captains forward window outer pane. I was flying and requested my First Officer to request a descent to a lower altitude. After initiating the descent; I gave the airplane to my copilot so I can perform checklists. I requested my relief officers to return to the cockpit from the bunk to help. Since the aircraft seemed to be holding pressurization; and window was not deformed or showing signs of an air leak; we leveled off at FL200. We performed the window damage FWD L checklist; and turned off the window heat for that window which had already failed. I contacted Dispatch; and [Maintenance]. We all agreed the best option was to divert since the window and pressurization were holding; maintenance was available there; and another aircraft for passengers. We performed the fuel jettison checklist; notified ATC that we were going to dump fuel; and recorded our Lat/Lon for start and end; and the amount we dumped. We dumped enough to be just below max structural landing weight at landing. We notified ATC of the position; heading; wind; ground track and GS where we were dumping the fuel. We continued to ZZZ at FL200 uneventfully; landed and taxi to the gate. The crew worked well together in managing the work load; and we were all in agreement on divert plan.
B787 Captain reported the complete failure of the outer pane of his windshield which necessitated an en route diversion.