Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
The following is a description of the air turnback event on date:We departed ZZZZ operating ZZZZ-ZZZ. During climb out we started to notice a burning smell in the cockpit. We continued towards ZZZ; while trying to determine the cause of the smell. We climbed to 40;000 ft.; and continued towards ZZZ. The burning smell would continue to come and go. The smell started to get stronger and more frequent. I had the loadmaster and flight mechanic; as well as the FAA Inspector; looking for possible sources of the smell. We determined the smell was coming from the forward area of the cockpit. At that point I closed my air vent; and at that point notice that smoke was coming from the First Officer's side of the glare shield. We made the decision at that point to return to the airport in ZZZZ. As we started to descend back into ZZZZ we continued to try and find the source of the smoke and smell. As I was feeling the top of the glareshield; my finger touched the lower right portion of the windshield; and burnt it on contact. At that point I turned off the right forward window heat. After approximately 10 minutes the area was cool enough to touch. As we continued to ZZZZ the smell started to dissipate. Upon landing; the flight mechanic checked the connection; and the right forward window heat was deferred per the Company MEL (Minimum Equipment List). We departed ZZZZ for ZZZ and noted no further smells or issues. This was a mechanical malfunction. Nothing could be changed to prevent this in the future.
B767-300 flight crew reported smoke in the cockpit during climb that resulted in a return to the departure airport.