For most people, getting to work means checking traffic, allowing extra time for delays and hoping the roads are moving. For Jake Hutzler, an air traffic controller in Colorado, the journey can begin with a wing spread out on the road and a propeller strapped to his back.
Instead of driving to work, Hutzler sometimes flies to Pueblo Memorial Airport using a paramotor, a form of powered paragliding that lets him take off on foot without needing a conventional runway. His unusual commute has caught widespread attention online, turning an ordinary trip to work into an aerial adventure.According to the Associated Press, the 28-year-old makes the flight about once a week. The journey takes roughly 20 minutes, with Hutzler travelling at around 35 mph over the countryside surrounding Pueblo.
For him, the attraction is not simply avoiding traffic. It is a way to make room for his passion for flying while carrying out the responsibilities of his job.
A backpack motor and a wing replace the usual commute
A paramotor combines a paraglider wing with a motor and propeller carried in a backpack-style frame. The pilot lays out the wing, checks the equipment, starts the engine and runs forward until the wing catches the air and lifts them off the ground. Hutzler uses a Parajet Maverick motor paired with an Ozone Sirocco 3 wing measuring 18 metres.
In an Instagram video, he described the equipment as a combination that offers speed, performance and handling.The process is a little more involved than grabbing car keys. Before take-off, Hutzler prepares the wing and conducts pre-flight checks. Once airborne, he travels above roads, open fields and familiar landmarks on his way towards the airport. The flight itself lasts about 20 minutes, but setting up the equipment and packing it away means the overall journey is not necessarily faster than driving.
As the Associated Press reported, Hutzler sees the experience as a way to enjoy flying rather than simply cut travel time.
Flying to work means coordinating with the tower
Hutzler's destination makes the journey particularly unusual. He works as an air traffic controller, directing aircraft from an airport tower, and must coordinate his own arrival with the colleagues managing traffic. In his video, he explains that he establishes two-way radio communication before entering the airport's Class D airspace.
He contacts the tower, updates colleagues on his position and altitude, and requests permission for his approach and landing.The tower's response, captured in the clip, includes approval for the requested approach and a warning that the landing is at his own risk. Hutzler then descends and lands near the airport. The exchange is more than an entertaining detail. Controlled airspace around airports has specific operating requirements, and the Federal Aviation Administration says ultralight vehicles cannot operate in Class D airspace without prior authorisation from the relevant air traffic control facility.That does not mean a paramotor can be flown to any airport simply by calling ahead. The route, airspace rules, weather, permissions and landing arrangements all matter. Hutzler's commute is a specific arrangement, not a general template for other people to copy.
From a childhood interest to an everyday adventure
Hutzler's flying commute also reflects a longstanding interest in aviation. Reports by the Associated Press and ABC News describe how he developed an enthusiasm for flying before finding paramotoring as a way to return to the activity.
Since taking up the sport, he has found a way to combine it with his work schedule. The flight gives him time in the air even when his professional responsibilities leave fewer opportunities for longer recreational outings.In an interview with ABC News, Hutzler described the pleasure of being airborne, saying there was nothing better than flying to work while enjoying the view from hundreds of feet above the ground.
He has also spoken about the unusual perspective that comes with flying without a conventional cockpit surrounding him. His commute is not an everyday option in every condition. Weather, wind and the practical demands of preparing and flying the equipment can affect whether the trip is possible.
Driving remains the more predictable choice when conditions are unsuitable.
Millions watch a commute take flight
Hutzler's Instagram footage has attracted a large audience, with reports saying the video drew more than 13 million views.
Viewers praised the creativity of his travel routine, while others wondered how such a journey could be arranged legally and whether weather would make it impractical. The reactions capture the appeal of the story: a daily obligation has become something many people associate with adventure.
Yet the flight is not merely a shortcut over a traffic jam. It requires specialist equipment, preparation, suitable conditions and coordination with airport operations.For Hutzler, the payoff is the chance to make flying part of his working week. His journey shows how an unconventional hobby can sometimes fit into everyday life, provided the practical and safety requirements are taken seriously. For commuters watching from the ground, the idea of replacing a congested road with an open sky may be tempting. But Hutzler's paramotor trip remains a specialised personal choice, not a simple alternative to driving.
Its real distinction is that the journey to work has become an experience in its own right.