Full Breakdown
Pueblo Air-Traffic Controller’s Weekly Paramotor Commute
By Drooid · · How we work
The Aerial Commute in Practice
Jake Hutzler, a 28-year-old air-traffic controller at Pueblo Memorial Airport, flies a powered-paragliding rig—commonly called a paramotor—to his workplace once a week. After laying out the wing outside his apartment, he straps on the motor, launches, and spends roughly 20 minutes cruising at about 35 mph over highways, a water tower, and open fields. He maintains two-way radio contact with the tower, receives clearance to enter the airport’s Class D airspace, and lands on the ramp after permission is granted. He then packs up the equipment, changes into his work shirt, and begins directing aircraft.
Background & Context
Hutzler’s fascination with flight began in childhood trips with his grandfather, a pilot. In college he logged around 20 hours toward a private-pilot license before cost constraints halted the effort. A viral video of a man flying a paramotor to a fast-food restaurant inspired Hutzler to train in Florida in 2021; he later became a certified instructor. Their 2½-year-old daughter now watches the weekly aerial routine.
Regulatory Framework
Paramotors fall under the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 103 for ultralight vehicles. The rules, established on October 4, 1982, define an ultralight as a single-occupant craft weighing under 254 lb empty, carrying no more than five gallons of fuel, and limited to a top speed of 55 knots. Ultralights may operate only during daylight, must avoid congested cities, and must obtain prior clearance before entering controlled airspace. Hutzler’s commute works because his manager and he set up a two-way radio link that satisfies the clearance requirement, a privilege normally unavailable to uncertified ultralight pilots.
Data & Statistics
- Flight speed: ~35 mph (?30 knots).
- Flight duration: about 20 minutes per commute.
- Pueblo Memorial Airport elevation: 4,729 ft, affecting ultralight climb performance.
- Federal ultralight limits: <=254 lb empty weight, <=5 gal fuel, <=55 knots top speed.
- FAA staffing (FY 2025): 2,028 new controller trainees; 1,460 departures; net gain of 568 controllers nationwide.
- Pueblo Community College aviation grant (late 2025): $471,423 to launch an Aviation Maintenance Technician program.
Official Statements & Responses
Hutzler explains that his small, radar-invisible profile requires constant updates to tower staff: “I’m very small, and I don’t show up on radar,” he told the station, prompting the tower to track his position manually. He and his manager reviewed the Part 103 rulebook to ensure compliance, establishing a protocol that includes radio check-ins from take-off to landing. The tower’s acceptance of his flights reflects the airport’s Class D status, which permits controlled-airspace entry with explicit ATC clearance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m very small, and I don’t show up on radar,” — Jake Hutzler
On-the-Ground Perspective
Colleagues at the tower note that Hutzler’s arrival is announced over the same frequencies he uses for daily traffic control, allowing them to monitor his altitude and location in real time. The routine adds a unique visual element to the workday, though weather remains the limiting factor; winds above roughly 10 mph (16 kph) or strong thermal updrafts can ground the paramotor for the day.
Why It Matters
Hutzler’s commute illustrates how a recreational ultralight activity can be integrated safely into professional aviation operations when clear communication and regulatory compliance are observed. It also highlights staffing challenges at U.S. control towers, underscored by modest net gains in controller numbers despite substantial training investments. The story shows the balance between personal passion and public-safety protocols in the national airspace system.