Meet the air traffic controller who flies himself to work

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — Jake Hutzler, a 28-year-old air traffic controller, spends his workdays directing planes from an airport tower. Once a week, he trades his office for the skies of Colorado. To get to his workplace, Hutzler straps a propeller to his back and takes to the air on a paramotor. The 20-minute flight takes him over highways, water towers and finally the airport, where he keeps in touch with his colleagues at the tower.

Hutzler finds the commute to be a unique experience, offering a bird's-eye view that few get to enjoy. His passion for flying began in childhood, but he never pursued a pilot's license due to financial constraints. However, his interest was reignited after watching a viral video of a man paramotoring to McDonald's. After training in 2021, Hutzler became an instructor and now balances his demanding career with his weekly paramotor commute.