B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210; Flight Crew Total 27000; Flight Crew Type 11500
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
During climb through approximately 10;000 FT; while on vector; the First Officer noticed arcing in the Captain's forward window at the bottom. I assumed control as pilot flying (PF) while the First Officer ran the QRH. We asked and received permission to level at 16;000 FT; and noticed the arcing and delamination was expanding in length along the bottom and right side of the window. We requested immediate return to the departure airport and was being vectored for the VOR/DME approach; when the outer pane shattered. I transfer control to the First Officer at that time; due to reduced visibility out my window. I notified Flight Control via ACARS that we were returning to the airport and called Operations with the same info. ATC said they were going to (and did) call out Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF). The only exception to the event was my failure to declare an emergency as required by the FOM. We deemed it unnecessary due the fact that we were given vectors directly to the approach and the ARFF was called out. However; during post briefing we realize that a declaration of emergency is required for any deviation from destination or alternate.
[Narrative 2 contained no additional information.]
A B757 Captain's windshield began arcing at about 12;000 FT and the outer pane shattered at 16;000 FT; so an emergency was declared while the aircraft returned to land at the departure airport.