Through the partnership, American Airlines will get more realistic simulator and flight training systems that both teams hope will ultimately lead to a better flight experience for all the regular folks back in the main cabin. Increased realism in a flight simulator doesn't just mean higher definition visuals though -- it also means building in challenging new scenarios like "loss-of-control events" or other situations where planes ended up in unsafe conditions.

NASA has a long history of collaborating with the airline industry and others in the private sector to develop new technologies for everyone's benefit. In 2001, the agency actually partnered with American to develop synthetic vision, which allows pilots to have clear skies no matter what kind of weather happens to be outside the cockpit windows.