The Pilot Project Podcast

What does it feel like to fly a CF-18 Hornet into combat for the first time? What happens when the fighting is over, but the experiences stay with you?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew “Hazno” Faith, we pick up where we left off: arriving in Italy with almost no warning, preparing for combat operations over Libya, and putting years of fighter pilot training to the test.

Andrew takes us inside Canada's contribution to Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, from enforcing a no-fly zone to flying strike missions against Gadd...

What does it take to go from watching CF-18 Hornets fly overhead as a kid to becoming a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force?

For Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew “Hazno” Faith, that dream began on a school playground in Saskatchewan. In Part 1 of our conversation, we follow his journey through RCAF pilot training, from the Harvard II in Moose Jaw to the Hawk and Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT) at 419 Squadron, and finally into the cockpit of the CF-18 Hornet.

Along the way, Andrew shares the unforgettable flying lesson that changed his approach to safety, the chal...

You've just had the worst flight of your course. Your confidence is shaken, and tomorrow's flight could determine your future. How do you bounce back?

In the conclusion of our three-part Built for Pressure series, mental performance consultant Zoran Stojković explains how RCAF student pilots can recover from failure, approach difficult debriefs, rebuild confidence, and distinguish honest self-assessment from destructive self-criticism.

We also explore how Canada's allies are developing mental performance programs, how technology could improve pilot training, and why recovery is essential to sustained high performance.

Finally, Zoran shares practical habits to d...

What happens when you know the material cold, but freeze during a flight test?

Mental performance consultant Zoran Stojković returns for Part 2 of PERFORMANCE & SAFETY: BUILT FOR PRESSURE, where we explore practical tools for RCAF pilot training; from pre-flight routines and chair flying to performance cues, breathing and recovering after a cockpit mistake.

Drawing on Zoran’s work with student pilots, pro athletes, and Bryan’s flying experience, they discuss recognizing when you’re falling behind the aircraft, practicing resets before you need them, and helping students recover after a difficult flight.

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What happens when you know how to do something, but pressure makes it difficult to actually do it?

Certified Mental Performance Consultant Zoran Stojković has spent more than 15 years helping people perform under pressure, from professional athletes and Olympic hopefuls to RCAF pilot trainees.

In Part 1, Zoran shares the path that took him from competitive tennis and high-performance sport to 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Moose Jaw. He explains what surprised him about the pressures facing student pilots, how he earned credibility as a civilian working inside military aviation, and why relationships became central t...

Colonel Todd O’Malley concludes our four-part journey through the evolution of Canadian tactical and special operations aviation. Todd returns to Moose Jaw, where he transitions from helicopters to fixed-wing flying, learns to instruct on the CT-156 Harvard and later becomes Commandant of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School.

He also recounts commanding B Flight at 427 Squadron, developing maritime counterterrorism capabilities and helping transform the unit from tactical helicopter support into a dedicated special operations aviation squadron. After more than a decade in civilian aviation, Todd explains what brought him back into uniform as Director Air and Space at...

Colonel Todd O’Malley continues our four-part journey through the history of Canadian tactical and special operations aviation. In Part 3, Todd recounts flying the CH-135 Twin Huey in Somalia, where severe brownouts made every takeoff and landing dangerous, and an unexpected mission gave him his first experience supporting U.S. special operations forces.

Todd also reflects on the Somalia Affair, its painful aftermath and the difficulty of returning home from a deployment overshadowed by scandal. He then takes us inside the earliest days of JTF2—from flying with the RCMP and becoming the unit’s first Air Liaiso...

Colonel Todd O’Malley continues our four-part look at the history of Canadian tactical and special operations aviation. In Part 2, the current Director Air and Space at CANSOFCOM returns to his first operational years with 427 Squadron, flying the CH-135 Twin Huey on deployments to the Sinai Desert and Honduras.

Todd describes navigating the Sinai with paper maps, demanding nighttime approaches, a fatal helicopter crash, and the challenges of low-level jungle flying during the final years of the Cold War. He also recalls the culture of Canadian tactical aviation in the 1980s and the experimental introduction of night-vision go...

Colonel Todd O’Malley begins a four-part journey through the history of Canadian tactical and special operations aviation. Now Director Air and Space at CANSOFCOM, Todd looks back on the unlikely path that took him from Sault College and an early setback in civilian flight training to earning his RCAF wings and joining 427 Squadron as a CH-135 Twin Huey pilot.

In Part 1, Todd explains how failure reshaped his approach to preparation, recalls the fighter-driven culture of 1980s Moose Jaw, and describes the disappointment of being selected for helicopters. He also takes listeners inside the demanding transition to ro...

What does it take to lead one of the world's premier military aerobatic teams?

In the final chapter of our three-part series, Major Maciej "Match" Hatta takes us inside life as "The Boss", aka Snowbird 1 and Team Lead of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. From the demanding selection process and culture of trust that defines the team to the responsibility of leading eight other pilots in close formation, Match shares what it means to lead the team.

We also explore the remarkable people behind the scenes who make every performance possible, the legacy of the CT-114...

After flying the CF-18 Hornet in combat and completing his first tour with the Snowbirds, Major Maciej "Match" Hatta set his sights on one of military aviation's most demanding challenges: Experimental Test Pilot School.

In Part 2 of this three-part series, Match takes us inside the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. He explains the mindset that separates test pilots from operational pilots, the relentless pace of the course, and what it takes to evaluate aircraft at the edge of their flight envelopes.

From deep stalls in the F-16 Viper...

Before he became Snowbird 1, Major Maciej "Match" Hatta spent years fighting for the chance to fly.

In Part 1 of this three-part series, Match shares the story behind his journey from Air Cadets in Milton, Ontario, to the cockpit of the CF-18 Hornet. He reflects on the VHS tape that sparked a lifelong dream, the vision issues that nearly ended his career before it began, the challenges of military flight training, and the determination that carried him through Moose Jaw, Fighter Lead-In Training, and operational service.

The conversation also explores flying NORAD missions, deploying on 22 combat...

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Bray concludes our three-part series with a rare look behind the curtain of Canadian Special Operations Aviation. As the Commanding Officer of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron, Chris explains how Special Operations Tactical Aviation Course (SOTAC) prepares aircrew for one of the Royal Canadian Air Force's most demanding environments, the qualities that define successful special operations aviators, and how the squadron continues to develop the next generation of capability.

We also discuss leadership, balancing family life with operational service, the Next Tactical Aviation Capability Set (NTACS), and Chris's vision for the future of Canadian Special Operations...

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Bray is the Commanding Officer of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron, the Royal Canadian Air Force unit supporting the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).

In Part 2, we take a rare look behind the curtain of Canadian Special Operations Aviation, exploring how 427 Squadron evolved into the modern capability it is today. Chris explains the squadron's culture, what makes it unique among allied SOF aviation units, the philosophy of "no mission too small," the addition of the CE-145C Vigilance, and the standards that define one of Canada's most demanding aviation communities. We also discuss leadership, mission...

Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Bray is the Commanding Officer of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron, the Royal Canadian Air Force unit supporting the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).

In Part 1, Chris shares his journey from growing up outside the military to becoming a special operations aviator and leading one of the RCAF's most demanding helicopter squadrons. We discuss RCAF pilot training, flying the CH-146 Griffon, Operation IMPACT, and the experiences that shaped his career.

This episode also offers a rare look behind the curtain of Canadian Special Operations Aviation, exploring what it takes to earn a place...

Every military aviator carries stories that stay with them long after the aircraft shuts down.

To mark the milestone of 100 episodes, we're looking back at the moments that revealed the true weight of military aviation. This second retrospective shifts from learning to fly to learning what comes after. A pilot's first time facing enemy fire, split-second decisions under pressure, devastating loss, the invisible burdens many carry home, and the resilience that keeps crews moving forward.

Featuring stories from fighter pilots, search and rescue crews, tactical helicopter crews, transport crews, and more, including the CF-18 Hornet...

New listener? Start here!

For 100 episodes, The Pilot Project Podcast has explored the world of military and mission aviation through the people who have lived it.

In Part 1 of our retrospective series, The Climb, we look back at the making of military aviators.

From the first moments that sparked the dream, to the grind of training, the edge of high-performance flying, and the toll service can take even in peacetime, this episode traces the journey behind the wings.

These are the moments that shaped them, and the reasons they kept going.<...

Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Maryse Carmichael returns to discuss the Snowbirds, the retirement of the CT-114 Tutor, the planned operational pause, and the future of one of Canada’s most recognizable aviation teams.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Maryse explains what Canadians do not see behind a Snowbirds performance, from months of training and preparation to the trust, discipline, teamwork, and safety culture required to fly nine aircraft in close formation. She also shares powerful stories about the team's impact, including how one airshow inspired a future Snowbirds pilot.

Drawing on her experience as both a Snowbirds pi...

Before she commanded the Snowbirds, Maryse Carmichael was a young Air Cadet from Quebec City with a dream of becoming a military pilot. That dream would eventually make her the first woman to fly with the Snowbirds - and the first woman to fly with any jet aerobatic demonstration team in the world.

In Part 1, Maryse shares her journey through Air Cadets, flight training in Moose Jaw, instructional flying on the CT-114 Tutor, operational flying with 434 Squadron, VIP operations with 412 Squadron, and serving in Bagotville during the post-9/11 years. Along the way she discusses Exercise RV92, flying...

In Part 3, Captain Troy Clarke discusses flight instruction, standards flying, STARS Air Ambulance operations, and his decision to return to the RCAF after leaving military service. 

Captain Troy Clarke shares incredible stories from his time flying the CH-149 Cormorant with 103 Search and Rescue Squadron, including North Atlantic rescues, fatigue lessons, operational pressure, and the realities of SAR flying. 

Captain Troy Clarke shares his unconventional path into aviation, from growing up in rural Newfoundland to navigating early flight training struggles, 9/11’s impact on the industry, and joining the RCAF.

After earning his wings on fast jets, a serious in-flight decompression incident forced him to rethink his career and ultimately transition to helicopters.

This episode is all about persistence, setbacks, and finding your path in aviation.

After his time on the Sea King, Niels Olson moved into instructing at 3 CFFTS.

In Part 3, he shares what it’s like teaching new pilots, working in Standards, and supporting wildfire operations during Op Lentus. From coaching students through complex flying to landing in smoke so thick it turns day into night, this episode shows a different side of military aviation.

As the first woman to command the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet is leading the service through one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history.

In this special 100th episode of The Pilot Project Podcast, Jamie discusses the challenges and opportunities facing today's RCAF, from recruitment and retention to NORAD modernization, fifth-generation air power, space capabilities, interoperability with allies, and preparing for future conflict. She explains how systems such as the F-35, P-8 Poseidon, RPAS, advanced sensors, and space-based capabilities will work together as part of a connected fifth-generation force.

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In Part 2 of this conversation, Captain Niels Olson takes us inside his first deployment as a CH-124 Sea King pilot with 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron - and the reality of life at sea that no one fully prepares you for.

After completing his training, Niels went almost straight from the Operational Training Unit to deploying aboard HMCS Ottawa. 

Niels opens up about the moment he realized he might not want to be a maritime helicopter pilot at all, and how he realized he was right where he wanted to be.

This episode breaks down w...

Captain Niels Olson didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a military pilot. In fact, while living next to CFB Chilliwack as a kid, he remembers watching soldiers train and thinking, “I’m never doing that.”

In Part 1, we cover his early life, joining under CEOTP, the long training pipeline, and his first exposure to maritime helicopter operations before even starting flight training. Then we'll get into a high-level look at what life is like at sea with the CH-124 Sea King operating on Royal Canadian Navy frigates.

In Part 2, Capt Dylan Gilje-Allan and Capt Matt Chretien take listeners inside Canada's P-8 Poseidon SEEDCORN program and their transition from the CP-140 Aurora to operational flying with the Royal Air Force.

They discuss P-8 training, automation, crew coordination, and the differences between the Aurora and Poseidon. 

The conversation also covers tracking Russian submarines in the Atlantic, flying operational missions shortly after training, life at RAF Lossiemouth, and how Canada is preparing the next generation of Long Range Patrol crews years before the aircraft enters service.

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Canadian SEEDCORN pilots Capt Dylan Gilje-Allan and Capt Matt Chretien join us to share their journey from military flight training to operational flying on the CP-140 Aurora.

They discuss the CEOTP/SEEDCORN training pipeline, earning their wings during COVID, and life in the Long Range Patrol community. The conversation also explores Operation NEON deployments, anti-submarine warfare, the Titan submersible search, and a dangerous fighter intercept in the Indo-Pacific that was later classified as unsafe and unprofessional.

The episode concludes with their selection for Canada's P-8 Poseidon SEEDCORN program and the next chapter of Long...

Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson conclude the story of the MSC Baltic III rescue, one of the most remarkable search and rescue missions in recent Canadian history.

After battling through severe winter weather and discovering the vessel hard aground on Newfoundland's west coast, the crew of Rescue 901 faced a critical decision: evacuate the injured sailors as originally planned, or remove all 20 people from the ship before conditions worsened further.

Join us as Pete and Greg walk through the rescue itself, including inserting SAR Techs onto the vessel, triaging injured crew members, coordinating...

Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson take us inside the opening hours of the MSC Baltic III rescue, one of the most challenging search and rescue missions in recent Canadian history.

On the morning of February 15, 2025, the cargo ship MSC Baltic III lost power in a violent winter storm off Newfoundland's west coast. With winds exceeding 120 km/h, massive waves, and reports of multiple injuries aboard, Rescue 901 launched into worsening conditions knowing time was running out.

Join us as Pete and Greg walk through the mission from the initial mayday call to the...

Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson were part of the crew that helped rescue all 20 sailors from the grounded cargo ship MSC Baltic III during one of the most dramatic search and rescue missions in recent Canadian history.

Before the mayday call, the winter storm, and the race against time off Newfoundland's west coast, there were years of training, operational experience, and lessons learned that prepared them for that moment.

Join us as Pete and Greg share their paths into the Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue community, the challenges of becoming...

In Part 2 of this series, Major Sam Behm shares what it was like to command the first Canadian CC-130J Hercules mission tasked with evacuating personnel during the 2021 Kabul Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation.

She reflects on preparing her crew, making decisions under pressure, and leading in an environment defined by uncertainty and risk. Sam also speaks candidly about serving as the only female Hercules pilot in the RCAF for several years, the importance of mentorship through Elevate Aviation, and why International Women’s Day and Women of Aviation Worldwide Week matter in today’s military.

A co...

Major Sam Behm's path to the CC-130J Hercules wasn’t straightforward. 

As we mark International Women's Day and Women in Aviation Worldwide Week, Sam shares how she joined the Canadian Armed Forces under ROTP as a MARS Officer (now Naval Warfare Officer), and determinedly pursued a transfer to the Royal Canadian Air Force when the opportunity to become a pilot reopened. 

We walk through her flight training on the Grob in Portage la Prairie, the Harvard in Moose Jaw, and the King Air, as well as her time with the Multi-Engine Utility Flight before begi...

 Part two of our chat with Captain Rock Veilleux follows his evolution from recovery to instructor pilot, overseas flying, and ultimately search and rescue operations. It's a powerful story about adaptation, leadership, and staying passionate about aviation. 

Captain Rock Veilleux shares how a passion for flying led to fast jets - and how a dramatic ejection forced him to rebuild both his career and confidence. A gripping Canadian military aviation story about resilience, identity, and staying in the fight. 

In part 3 of 3, Major Ian Wookey concludes his Afghanistan story. He describes the execution of evacuation operations in Kabul, the pressure faced by aircrews and planners, and the emotional toll of operating in a collapsing environment. As the final flights departed, Ian reflects on the limits of military power, the people left behind, and how those final days continue to resonate long after leaving Afghanistan.

In part 2 of 3, Major Ian Wookey returns to continue his account of Afghanistan’s final days. He describes the shift from a controlled drawdown to the sudden collapse of Afghan security forces, the rapidly deteriorating situation in Kabul, and the mounting pressure on the small coalition force that remained behind. 

In part 1 of a 3-part conversation on the fall of Afghanistan, Major Ian Wookey shares his first-hand account of the Afghanistan drawdown, from closing Kandahar Airfield to becoming the last Canadian on the ground.

Major Matt Neri returns for Part 2 to discuss the Outcast 903 accident, lessons learned, recovery, and leadership as CO of 103 SAR Squadron. He also shares how Mattfrom103 became an unexpected platform for education, transparency, and trust in the SAR community. 

Major Matt Neri joins Bryan Morrison for Part 1 of a two-part interview exploring his career in Search and Rescue. Matt shares his early aviation influences, flight training experiences, and first operational tours on the CH-149 Cormorant. From earning his wings to coordinating SAR missions at JRCC Halifax, this episode offers an inside look at the realities of rescue flying and what it takes to lead the busiest SAR squadron in Canada.