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Jake Hutzler, a 28-year-old air traffic controller at Pueblo Memorial Airport in Colorado, sometimes commutes by powered paraglider, or paramotor. When weather allows, he launches from nearby fields and flies to the airport, coordinating with the tower so colleagues know where he is and when he is approaching.
How Hutzler’s paramotor commute works
A paramotor combines a paraglider wing with an engine and propeller carried in a backpack-style frame. The wing provides lift; the motor helps propel the pilot through the air. The Associated Press reports that Hutzler lays out his wing, starts the motor and runs to launch. The report does not identify the make or model of his equipment.
Hutzler’s destination is his own workplace: Pueblo Memorial Airport. According to the AP, he calls the tower before departing and keeps coworkers updated on his location and altitude while en route. He waits for the OK to land on the airport ramp, then packs his gear, changes into his work shirt and starts his shift. This is a coordinated arrangement for his commute, not evidence that other paramotor pilots can simply land at an airport after making a call.
How long the flight takes—and what the commute includes
The AP reported Hutzler’s flight takes about 20 minutes at roughly 35 mph (56 kph), crossing fields and a highway on the way. Those are estimates in the AP’s account of his commute, not independently measured performance figures for paramotors generally.
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The flight time is not the whole trip. Hutzler told the AP that laying out and packing the equipment make the overall commute slightly longer than driving. He makes the trip about once a week when conditions permit, rather than relying on it as a daily replacement for a car.
Why the tower needs to know he is coming
Hutzler explained to the AP that he is small and does not show up on radar, so coworkers want updates on his location and progress. Communication matters because he is flying into an airport environment where other aircraft and air traffic procedures must be considered.
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FAA guidance provides important context. The FAA’s AC 103-6 reproduces Part 103 provisions stating that ultralight operations in specified airspace, including airport traffic areas and control zones, require prior authorization from the air traffic control facility with jurisdiction. The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, Chapter 3, Section 2, likewise says ultralight operations in Class A, B, C, D, or certain airport-surface Class E airspace require prior authorization. The applicable airspace, permissions and local arrangements matter; a phone call alone should not be treated as general permission to land at a controlled airport.
The FAA material also says ultralights generally operate between sunrise and sunset, must yield right of way to aircraft, and may not fly over congested areas of cities, towns or settlements. These are general regulatory points, not a determination of the exact authorization or operating terms for Hutzler’s flights. The AP says he and his manager reviewed rules and communication needs, but its account does not establish the airport’s precise airspace details or the terms of any local arrangement.
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Weather decides whether he can fly
This is a fair-weather commute. The AP reports that wind around 10 mph (16 kph) may keep Hutzler grounded, and that sun-heated ground can create bumpy updrafts. That wind figure describes his reported decision-making, not a universal safety threshold for paramotoring. Conditions that make a short flight possible one day may make it unsuitable the next.
How he got into powered paragliding
According to the AP, Hutzler began powered paragliding training in Florida in 2021 and later became an instructor. He had spent about 20 hours working toward a conventional pilot’s license in college, but stopped because of the cost. He started working in air traffic control earlier in 2026, raised the commute idea with his manager, and made his first work flight in June 2026.
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The AP also reports that a viral video of someone flying a paramotor to McDonald’s first caught his attention. Hutzler later trained Bethany, who became his wife, and the couple included their paramotors at their wedding. In an ABC News/Good Morning America interview, he described the ride as “the closest thing that you can get to a jetpack.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What makes this commute unusual
Hutzler’s story combines a personal passion with the unusual logistics of flying to an airport where he works as a controller. It is not simply a shortcut: setup takes time, weather can cancel the flight, and reaching the airport requires coordination with the tower and compliance with the rules for the airspace involved. For Hutzler, the trade-off is worthwhile because, as he told the AP, the experience is more fun than driving.
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