An aerospace engineering company wants to offer passengers the ultimate window-seat experience – from on top of the plane.

Washington-based company Windspeed Tech introduced its concept design, SkyDeck, several years ago, but the idea recently got some of attention on social media.

“The SkyDeck is a patented system designed to provide an exhilarating view of the aircraft’s external environment while in flight, from a safe semi-external location,” the website boasts.

“The aim was to create the next exciting experiential in-flight entertainment for VIP aircraft owners and the airline industry.”

Located away from the economy cabin, the design includes two seats that either rise up, or there’s another design featuring a staircase, which leads to the external window, giving passengers a panoramic view of the sky.

Initially, there were concerns the design of the window could affect the aircraft’s tail performance.

However, Windspeed insists the “teardrop canopy design” is safe by “engineering the optimum height of the canopy”.

“In addition, since the SkyDeck is generally positioned towards the rear of the aircraft, additional fuel burn due to any added drag will be small to negligible,” the company said.

“CFD analysis or wind tunnel tests will be performed to address these concerns.”

Could the SkyDeck become a reality?

Experiencing the SkyDeck, should it ever be fitted to an aircraft, would likely have to come at a cost.

Windspeed does sell it as an “additional source of revenue”, suggesting passengers could be charged on a pay-per-view basis.

Despite huge advancements in technology, ever since SkyDeck was unveiled in 2015, not much has really changed in terms of in-flight entertainment, which is why SkyDeck was conceptualised.

It could be seen as a way to provide an interesting form of entertainment and cure boredom on long-haul flights.

In recent years, there has been some much-needed innovation in the aviation space.

SkyDeck was designed to relieve boredom on long-haul flights.

One in particular, which seems to be quite a popular addition is Air New Zealand’s Skynest.

Trying to help those in economy get some sleep on long-haul flights, the Skynest is an area people can book to get some time to lie down.

“We wanted to offer our economy customers a lie-flat option and that’s how Skynest was born. It’s going to be a real game changer for the economy travel experience,” chief executive Greg Foran said in 2022.

Other designs have been more divisive, like the double-decker plane seats, which were seen at the 2023 Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

The stacked design was so people could have more leg room in economy.

The SkyDeck can be fitted installed on several different types of aircrafts, from wide-bodied planes to smaller jets.