The Pilot Project Podcast

What was it like to deploy with the Canadian Helicopter Force Afghanistan (CHFA)? What is it like when your door gunners engage the enemy, or to be shot at while flying in a firefight? What do you do when your helicopter gets shot up and you still have to make it to a safe place to land?  Greg has been a Tac Hel instructor, and deployed early in his career to fight in Afghanistan with CHFA; flying...

Did you know the third Friday of every September is Military Family Appreciation Day? What is it like to be a spouse or partner with someone in the RCAF? What are the challenges? What are the things that make it great? What advice would a spouse give to a new pilot to help them have a successful family life? What is it like if your new husband deploys? What about when you have a newborn, or you're...

This week on The Pilot Project Podcast, we’ll explore the events surrounding September 11 as viewed through the eyes of three air traffic controllers who were on duty on or following that day. Each provides a unique perspective. What was it like for a Canadian military controller working in New York at the time? What about a civilian controller working in Gander, a town of 9000 that took on 6000 s...

After beginning pilot training with his sights set on fighters, Blake McNaughton's career took a series of unexpected turns that ultimately led him to become a flying instructor, a Snowbird, and eventually a search and rescue pilot. In this episode, Blake shares lessons from thousands of hours teaching on the CT-156 Harvard and CT-155 Hawk, the demanding process of earning a spot on the Snowbirds,...

What are the paths you can take to join the RCAF as a pilot? How much time will you have to serve? What are the eyesight requirements for a pilot? What can you do to make yourself an attractive applicant? Paul has flown the CP-140M Aurora and most recently been posted to Canadian Forces Recruiting Group in Borden, Ontario. There he became extremely well-versed in the ins and outs of recruiting; an...

What does it take to land a helicopter on a pitching ship deck at night in bad weather? How do you come back from tragedy and the loss of good friends? Corey has flown the Cyclone around the world from the decks of Royal Canadian Naval ships. He also instructs the helicopter course at 3CFFTS in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.  Corey will talk about his experiences flying the Cyclone and his journey...

Davis Clark joins us to share what it's like to fly the CP-140 Aurora, one of the Royal Canadian Air Force's most versatile aircraft. A longtime Aurora pilot, instructor, and multiple-time Op IMPACT veteran, Davis discusses his path into military aviation, overcoming challenges during flight training, and why he chose the Long Range Patrol community.  The conversation explores the Aurora's diverse...

The RCAF has frozen the hiring process for direct entry officer (DEO) applicants. Why are they doing this? What does it mean? How long will it last? We'll sit down with Brigadier General John Alexander, commander of 2 Canadian Air Division to answer all these questions and more. John has flown several helicopters around the world including a stint flying the Puma with the RAF. He has deployed in m...

What is it like to fly Canada’s tactical airlift fleet? How about showing up as the fleet’s only female pilot (at the time)? How does it feel to land by an active volcano, or to explore the globe on one of Canada’s busiest fleets? After flying all around the world as well as instructing on the CC-130J Super Hercules, Skye has been there, done that, and thrived in the RCAF.  Skye will talk about wh...

What does it take to switch from a different trade to pilot, and what is the process? What does it feel like to be in flight training in the RCAF right NOW? After extensive experience as an Air Combat Systems Officer (ACSO) Scott decided to join the good guys and be a pilot. He just finished a shortened Phase I course and has began his training in Phase II. In this episode we check in with him to...

Imagine you are on a training flight and you get a call that there has been a crash. As Combat Support, you respond to the scene to find the worst - the pilot has not survived. After a long day of recovering remains and securing the crash, you find out the person who died was one of your best friends. What would you do? How do you recover? Vic will tell us about this experience firsthand. Vic was...

What happens if you have mental health issues as a pilot in the RCAF? What does it look like to navigate that system? Is there a large stigma against coming forward? For this special Mental Health Awareness Month episode, Bryan will sit in the guest seat and his wife Melissa will take a turn interviewing.   Bryan has flown around the world in the CP-140M Aurora, but the missions that left their ma...

What is it like to fly Canada’s largest aircraft? What was it like to be part of the evacuation of Afghanistan? How can you make sure your failures become learning experiences instead of stumbling blocks? After flying all around the world in the C17 and now instructing on the Phase III multi-engine course at 3CFFTS, John knows what it takes to succeed as a pilot in the RCAF.  John talks about his...

What is it like to refuel a fighter over Iraq? What about going straight to one of the largest aircraft in the RCAF from a small twin engine turboprop?  How can chair flying change the way you train, and how do you do it properly? Jeff will tell us all these things and many more.   Jeff walked into the RCAF with zero flight experience.  Now, Jeff has flown all over the world in the CC-150 Polaris....

What are the wait times like in the RCAF pilot training system?  Are they long? What is being done to make them shorter? We'll answer these questions and many more, largely sourced from you, our fans! In this special episode we sit down with Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Peek and Colonel Chris "Morty" Morrison to chat about training delays as well as some of the future plans for pilot training in the R...

On January 20th, 2019 Al-Qaeda forces conducted a complex attack on a FOB in Aguelhok, Mali which left several UN peacekeepers dead and others wounded and in desperate need of Medevac.  That's where Jackie and her crew stepped up.  Hear the story for the first time ever, now. What is it like to fly the largest helicopter in the RCAF? Jackie has flown the CH-147F Chinook all over Canada and Mali, a...

What is it like to fly over the Arctic in a twin engine aircraft? How do you succeed in competitive flight training as a group and an individual? Ryan talks about his experience flying the CC-138 Twin Otter out of Yellowknife.  Ryan flew the Twin Otter all over the Arctic (and Antarctic!), and currently instructs at 3 Canadian Forces Flight Training School in Portage la Prairie, MB.  He has also h...

What is it like to fly at 15 feet over the deserts of Iraq? How about aiding in disaster relief when the fires struck Fort McMurray? Pete shares his experiences flying tac hel and talks about the importance of maintaining joy in flying and going to work.  He’ll talk about why that’s essential to his success as a pilot. Pete has flown the Bell CH-146 Griffon in Canada and Iraq, and currently instru...

What does it take to make it in the intense world of fast jet flight training in Moose Jaw? What does courage and honesty have to do with excelling in flight, and staying alive? Jules shares some tips for crushing it while in Phase III Hawk training and why it’s important to be honest about your faults and work to improve them. Jules has flown a myriad of aircraft and has a whopping 6800 flight ho...

What does it take to excel in Phase III multi-engine flight training in Portage la Prairie? How can you stay positive even when you don’t get the job you hoped for? Dan shares some tips for excelling while in Phase III Multi-Engine training and loving life in the RCAF no matter where it takes you. Dan flew search and rescue missions out of Comox BC on the CC-115 Buffalo.  He instructed on the Phas...

What does it take to make it through Phase III Helicopter flight training in the RCAF?  Phase III Helo instructor Vic Weston shares his experiences with us and talks about what he thinks makes a great helicopter pilot. Vic flew as a Bell 412 pilot in Combat Support role in Cold Lake, Alberta as well as in Goose Bay, Labrador.  He now teaches at 3 Canadian Forces Flight Training School. Vic will ta...

What is it like to be deployed at Christmas? How do CAF members stay positive when they are away from family? Do they get Christmas dinner in the desert?  We’ll answer these questions and more by talking with 3 CAF members who've been away for Christmas and one family member who's waited at home in this special Christmas episode. Deploying through birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays is part of...

What does it take to make it through Phase II Flight Training at Moose Jaw? What is it like to fly into Baghdad in a C-17?  How do you takeoff in formation and stay safe in the clouds? Lauren has flown all over the world in the RCAF’s largest aircraft, the CC-177 Globemaster (C-17).  She has also instructed in Moose Jaw as both a military flight instructor on the Harvard and as a civilian on the s...

Is Phase I a weeding out process?  What does it take to pass?  After taking part in over 60 rescues, instructing on the Phase III helicopter course and being the Phase I Grob Flight Commander, Dawn knows what it takes to be successful, take responsibility for your success and to make sure you stay balanced and healthy while you strive for it. Dawn talks about how wellness can help you navigate dif...

This is the trailer/introductory episode for The Pilot Project Podcast.  In this podcast, Bryan introduces himself and talks about what inspired him to get into aviation, how his career has progressed, and what experience he has.  The episode also lays out the goals of the podcast and teases the next episode! Royal Canadian Air Cadet website (How Bryan got his start): https://aircadetleague.com/ T...