I'm glad the lack of rain repellent is mentioned, although the hydrophobic coating is better than nothing if it is fresh. Do PX have the coating? The B737 windscreen is difficult to see through with water on the windows in even moderate rain, the wipers only giving you a "flash" of vision as they sweep.
Actual forward visibility through the window vs stationary observer vis is another issue. A stationary observer measurement can meet the requirements without being concerned by rain on the windows. There are scenario's where you can get visual at the MAP on minimum visibility, but have not yet flown into the shower, then hit the "wall of water" and have the window obscured by the water and you lose visual reference suddenly. As pilots, we are concerned with actual forward vision through the window, not some stationary measurement.
At least with HUD equipped 737's the LHS should be getting a series of snapshots with the wiper sweep of the runway without having change their focus from inside to outside (takes a finite time to accommodate the focal length change, increases with age) at a crucial point with difficult forward vision.
I'm not suggesting these issues came into play in this accident, just the type of issues that the B737 has with its flat windows and rainfall in the visual segment.
Last edited by FYSTI; 3rd Oct 2018 at 04:53.