Colorado air traffic controller commutes to work by paramotor

Weekly flight routine

Hutzler departs from his home and lands on the airport ramp, where he packs up the wing, removes his jacket and begins his shift as a flight controller.

During the flight he drinks coffee and eats a burrito, and shares the experience on Instagram.

Flight performance

He flies at roughly 35 mph (56 kph), covering the route in about 20 minutes; with a strong tailwind the time can drop to 10 minutes or less.

He began training on paramotors in 2021 in Florida and later became an instructor, accumulating five years of experience.

Regulatory compliance

Paramotors are classified under federal ultralight rules, must be operated during daylight hours and avoid congested areas; Hutzler informs tower colleagues before takeoff and updates them on his location and altitude during the flight.