Full Breakdown
Colorado Air-Traffic Controller Commutes to Work by Paramotor
By Drooid · · How we work
Flying to the Tower: A Weekly Paramotor Commute
Jake Hutzler, a 28-year-old air-traffic controller at Pueblo Memorial Airport in Pueblo, Colorado, pilots a powered-paragliding rig—known as a paramotor—to reach his tower once a week. After laying out the wing on the road outside his apartment, he fires the motor, runs, and lifts off within seconds. He spends roughly 20 minutes aloft at about 35 mph (56 kph), soaring over fields, a highway, and a water tower before approaching the airport, where he receives clearance from the tower before landing on the ramp. The flight time is comparable to his car commute, though a favorable tailwind can shave the trip to 15 minutes.
How He Got Started and the Appeal of Paramotors
Hutzler’s fascination with flight began in childhood, flying with his grandfather in a four-seat aircraft. After a viral video of a man eating a hamburger while paramotoring to a fast-food restaurant, he began training in 2021 in Florida, later becoming an instructor. He notes that the sport is relatively accessible—no pilot’s license is required and the equipment costs a fraction of conventional aircraft, typically $8,000-$9,000. Federal ultralight rules still apply: flights are limited to daylight hours and must avoid congested areas. Hutzler has even used the rig in personal milestones, proposing to his now-wife Bethany with a staged engine-trouble stunt and featuring paramotors at their wedding.
Numbers Behind the Flight
- Speed: Approximately 35 mph (56 kph) during the commute.
- Duration: About 20 minutes, potentially 15 minutes with a tailwind.
- Equipment cost: Roughly $8,000-$9,000 for a typical paramotor.
- Frequency: At least once a week since his first work-bound flight in June 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
Before each flight, Hutzler contacts the tower to announce his departure and receives permission to enter the airspace. His manager reviewed federal ultralight regulations and required two-way communication with the tower, granting approval for the weekly commute. Hutzler emphasizes that, because his paramotor “doesn’t show up on radar,” continuous updates to tower personnel are essential for safety.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m very small and I don’t show up on radar,” — Jacob Hutzler
- “There's nothing better than flying to work, you know, 500 feet in the air, sipping your coffee,” — Jacob Hutzler
- “It's probably the closest thing that you can get to a jetpack,” — Hutzler. To
- “If you're flying to work and your work is [in] an air traffic control tower, then, yeah, you do need to tell someone when you're flying,” — Jacob Hutzler