Narrative:

At cruise; FL370; the first officer noticed right windshield sparks arcing. Arcing grew and expanded rapidly encompassing entire right front windshield. I grabbed QRH for the ECAM anti ice right windshield...procedures for pulling (circuit breaker) circuit breaker to stop arcing. The first officer found circuit breaker on his side and continued QRH procedure. I was flying when suddenly there was a loud pop and (the outer pane of) the front right windshield shattered. We immediately donned oxygen masks and descended to FL200. I turned the aircraft back to the first officer and continued procedures for broken/cracked window in flight. I notified ATC of our situation; declared an emergency and requested direct to the nearest suitable airport. Finished procedures in QRH; notified dispatch of our emergency; alerted the flight attendants; and made a PA to the passengers explaining the diversion. I landed aircraft; as the first officer could not see through his windshield. Taxied to the gate.in the future...please direct crew schedulers to not reroute crew while in an 'emergency' through ACARS. Also suggest that crew be allowed the time to debrief and time to get back normal faculties (adrenaline rush due to emergency) before being forced to continue flight operations the flight crew was put in a position by crew schedulers to either continue their revised schedule after 45 minutes off; or 'refuse to fly'. Due to the stressful emergency condition and diversion; I felt it inappropriate to force the flight crew to continue in their present condition. We felt too stressed and needed time to come down from a very intense 30 minute emergency condition. Thus; due to FAA requirements on crewmember conditions; we decided we could not continue to fly after only a 45 min break.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A319 flight crew elected to divert to the nearest suitable airport following the failure of the outer pane of the First Officer's windshield. Later they take exception to the company's insistence that they continue flying shortly after completing their emergency diversion. Ultimately refuse to fly further.

Narrative: At cruise; FL370; the First Officer noticed right windshield sparks arcing. Arcing grew and expanded rapidly encompassing entire right front windshield. I grabbed QRH for the ECAM Anti Ice R Windshield...procedures for pulling (circuit breaker) CB to stop arcing. The First Officer found CB on his side and continued QRH procedure. I was flying when suddenly there was a loud pop and (the outer pane of) the front right windshield shattered. We immediately donned Oxygen masks and descended to FL200. I turned the aircraft back to the First Officer and continued procedures for Broken/Cracked window in flight. I notified ATC of our situation; declared an emergency and requested direct to the nearest suitable airport. Finished procedures in QRH; notified dispatch of our emergency; alerted the flight attendants; and made a PA to the passengers explaining the diversion. I landed aircraft; as the First Officer could not see through his windshield. Taxied to the gate.In the future...please direct crew schedulers to NOT reroute crew while in an 'emergency' through ACARS. Also suggest that crew be allowed the time to debrief and time to get back normal faculties (adrenaline rush due to emergency) before being forced to continue flight operations The flight crew was put in a position by Crew Schedulers to either continue their revised schedule after 45 minutes off; or 'refuse to fly'. Due to the stressful emergency condition and diversion; I felt it inappropriate to force the flight crew to continue in their present condition. We felt too stressed and needed time to come down from a very intense 30 minute emergency condition. Thus; due to FAA requirements on crewmember conditions; we decided we could not continue to fly after only a 45 min break.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.