Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
On our descent at approximately 28;000 FT the pilot not flying saw smoke entering the cockpit from all visible vents and below the windshield. We immediately downed our 02 masks; smoke goggles and declared an emergency. ATC gave a clearance for an emergency descent to 12;000 which was initiated promptly. We were immediately given a vector to the west directly to the closest airport. The pilot not flying was running the QRH. I; the pilot flying; noticed the inside of the windshield appeared unusual prior to the visual smoke. Much of it was covered in frost. I have never seen a windshield appear like this so quickly. After the smoke; then I suggested it could be the windshield heat. The pilot not flying then deselected the windshield heat and the smoke subsided. We landed safely. I feel as if we worked well together as a crew. All the memory items were followed and checklists were run per the QRH! Unfortunately; this is the SECOND time I have experienced smoke in the EMB145.
EMB145 First Officer experiences smoke entering through the cockpit vents passing FL280 during descent. Oxygen masks are donned and the QRH complied with before diverting to an airport closer than the destination airport.