SkyDeck would mean rooftop seating on airplanes with 360-degree view
- The SkyDeck is the next generation of in-flight entertainment
- It’s a transparent pod on top of an airplane
- VIP passengers can pay to enjoy unparalleled views
Published on Dec 06, 2023 at 5:21 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on Dec 07, 2023 at 1:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Adam Gray
The SkyDeck is the next generation of in-flight entertainment.
Windspeed Technologies has lodged a patent for an airplane see-through viewing deck.
The ‘deck’ looks like a pod on top of the plane – and the world is divided on the invention.
So, why does this company think the world needs a SkyDeck on every plane?
“Current in-flight entertainment offerings have not changed much over the decades,” Windspeed Technologies says.
“We wanted to come up with a product that would provide a higher level of entertainment to reduce the boredom of long flights.”
Whatever happened to just making the latest Marvel movie available?
The SkyDeck is a semi-external transparent pod that sits on the top of the plane.
The tech company hopes that airlines will pay to have its invention installed in their planes to add value to their journeys.
VIP passengers will be able to access the pod, paying to enjoy uninterrupted views of the sky while flying.
Airlines can choose between having the pod accessible by elevator or staircase, situated in an exclusive lounge area.
The design bears a resemblance to the cockpits of fighter jets, and it’s made using similar materials.
This ensures the pod can withstand all sorts of conditions, from bad weather to bird strikes.
The canopy is also equipped with a UV-protective coating, so you don’t arrive at your holiday destination already sunburnt.
The company has not revealed exactly how much one of these viewing decks will cost.
We do know that there are two options available, though: a double-seat version or a cheaper single-seat version.
Many expressed concern about spending the entire flight up in a pod, but the company states this is not its intended use.
Rather than a replacement for your actual plane seat, it’s more of a viewing deck.
That way airlines can charge per view, to cover the costs for such a presumably expensive add-on.
Some passengers were excited, seeing the potential of such a novel invention.
“A good place to make a proposal,” one commenter said.
“Beneath the plane rather than on the top of it would be AWESOME!” another said.
Others were less enthusiastic.
“I get nervous enough looking out a regular window; I’ll stick to the aisle seat thank you.”
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Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.
