The SkyDeck could be a new private plane must for the rich and famous with commercial aircraft also installing the SkyDeck to charge passengers for never before seen views.
A new view altogether with SkyDeck
The bubble pod that is SkyDeck offers passengers a 360-degree view for a wholly new in-flight entertainment offering. SkyDeck is being built and installed by Washington-based Windspeed Technologies. Depending on the size of the aircraft, the SkyDeck offers either one or two seats and it accessed by both a lift or stairs depending on how much you wish to spend.
The goal of the new technology is “to create the next exciting experiential in-flight entertainment for VIP aircraft owners and the airline industry,” the company said through a spokesperson.
“The SkyDeck can be installed on a wide variety of aircraft, ranging from wide-bodies to smaller executive jets,” they explained. “Current in-flight entertainment offerings have not changed much over the decades. We wanted to come up with a product that would provide a higher level of entertainment to reduce the boredom of long flights.”
“The concept attracted a lot of attention at the recent conference of the National Business Aviation Association in Las Vegas,” said Windspeed Techologies’ CEO Shakil Hussain.
SkyDeck already has a commercial airline on board?
The firm estimates that SkyDeck installations will run between $8 million and $25 million depending on how many seats and whether it has a lift of stairs. Commercial airlines would likely opt for a lift to avoid the liability of someone falling down the stairs.
Obviously, the SkyDeck will add both weight and drag to any aircraft that has one installed. This is certainly something that could make it considerably less attractive to airlines but CEO Shakel Hussain doesn’t seem to concerned.
“A large aircraft manufacturer in Europe plans to start offering the SkyDeck to potential customers soon,” he said recently.
Safety Issues?
Safety, quite rightly, was the firm’s first and foremost thought when designing the bubble pod.
“The initial concerns were the potential interference with the aircraft’s tail performance,” the firm said.
“Studies have shown that a teardrop canopy design and engineering the optimum height of the canopy mitigates that concern,” said a spokesperson for the firm.
“In addition since the SkyDeck will generally be positioned towards the rear of the aircraft, additional fuel burn due to any added drag will be small to negligible.”
To further enjoy the experience, the SkyDeck is coated with anti-condensation film to make sure it doesn’t fog up and its UV protection will keep viewers from getting a sunburn (or skin cancer)on a long-haul flight.
