How would you like to sit in a glass pod atop a passenger plane?

Would you sit in a glass bubble on top of an airplane? For some, the idea probably elicits excitement; for others, sheer terror. Either way, travelling in a crystal clear enclosure on top of a moving plane may soon be a reality.

The SkyDeck, as this potential air travel novelty has been dubbed, is a creation of American aerospace engineering firm Windspeed Technologies. The folks at Windspeed say the glass enclosed viewing area will be installed on the fuselage of existing private jets and passenger planes. Either one or two seats can be accessed by a staircase or an elevator. Once in the bubble, the seating can rotate 360 degrees, so passengers can look in any direction.

“The concept attracted a lot of attention at the recent conference of the National Business Aviation Association, in Las Vegas,” Shakil Hussain, the firm’s CEO, told the Robb Report. “A large aircraft manufacturer in Europe plans to start offering the SkyDeck to potential customers soon.”

Apparently one potential concern was that the pod would interfere with tail performance, but the Windspeed team says that SkyDeck’s teardrop shape and low height mean drag will be minimal and will not interfere with tail surfaces.

They also say the canopy will be made from an ultra-strong material similar to that used in supersonic fighter jets, and that it will be treated to prevent condensation and the penetration of ultraviolet rays. Bonus: it can withstand something called “bird strikes,” which is always reassuring.

As you can imagine, popping a SkyDeck onto your plane will cost a pretty penny — somewhere in the ballpark of $8 to $25 million — and the added weight will add to fuel consumption. To offset the cost, Windspeed is suggesting that airlines charge passengers on a pay-per-view basis.

The SkyDeck is currently patent and trademark pending, and Windspeed says it is already in talks with “a major aircraft canopy manufacturer” to design, build, test and supply the ready-to-install canopies.

So what is the point of the SkyDeck, apart from providing absolutely mind-blowing views?

Apparently there isn’t one:

“The aim was to create the next exciting experiential in-flight entertainment for VIP aircraft owners and the airline industry,” writes Windspeed on its website. Judging from the snazzy CGI promo video, the SkyDeck looks significantly more exhilarating than watching the latest blockbuster on a five-inch screen.

So if you’re an aisle person perhaps you’ll take a pass on this latest aviational novelty, but for those on the flip side of that coin, the SkyDeck could be the ultimate window seat.