The Pilot Project Podcast
The Pilot Project Podcast is an aviation podcast that aims to help new pilots learn what it takes to succeed in the world of flight, to help people in the flight training system learn what they may want to fly, and to give Canadians and the world a peek into life on the flight deck in the RCAF. We want to help pilots succeed and thrive! We interview real RCAF pilots for their exciting stories as well as the lessons they've learned along the way. We'll learn their tips to develop resilience and the tools it takes to make it in flight training.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 57 minutes
- Episodes
- 69
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Episode 47: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian Air Division as it prepares for the future and flying the CH-146 Griffon and CH-147 Chinook Part 2 - Chris McKenna
What is it like to deploy as the Task Force Commander for a violent mission in Mali? What difficulties does working with the UN bring? What is it like to be the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, …
Episode 46: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian Air Division as it prepares for the future and flying the CH-146 Griffon and CH-147 Chinook Part 1 - Chris McKenna
What is it like to deploy to Kandahar City, Afghanistan with JTF2 as a young officer in the RCAF? What about to return flying the CH-147D Chinook? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hou…
Episode 45: The Merge: Changes to the podcast, air-to-air photography, and aviation publishing Part 2 - Mike Reyno
What is it like to survive a mid-air collision with the Snowbirds? What does it feel like to join an Aurora crew on operations in the Mediterranean Sea for Op Sharp Guard? What does it take to make t…
Episode 44: The Merge: Changes to the podcast, air-to-air photography, and aviation publishing Part 1 - Mike Reyno
Tune in to this episode for an exciting announcement about the podcast! Following that, we will sit down with renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher Mike Reyno. What is it like to work extens…
Episode 43: The Service Couple: Being an RCAF aircrew service couple and flying in the CH-149 Cormorant and the CP-140M Aurora - Paul and McKayla Goddard
What is it like to be an RCAF aircrew service couple? Paul is a CH-149 Cormorant pilot and McKayla is a retired ACSO who flew on the CP-140M Aurora. Hear all about their experience as a service coupl…
Episode 42: The Wing Commander: Commanding 15 Wing Moose Jaw and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 2 - Dan Coutts
What is it like to be in charge of the one of Canada's largest pilot training bases? What does the future hold for pilot training in Canada, and what are we doing now to ensure our pilots are the bes…
Episode 41: The Wing Commander: Commanding 15 Wing Moose Jaw and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 1 - Dan Coutts
What is it like to fly the CH-146 Griffon for 427 Squadron as it transitioned from a normal Tac Hel Squadron to being part of CANSOFCOM? What about flying in Bosnia, or being Special Operations Suppo…
Episode 40: The Knight: The Fighter Force and the CF-188 Hornet - Fred
What is it like to fly a CF-188 Hornet? What does it feel like to break the sound barrier? How do our pilots stack up against friendly partners in exercises? How physically demanding is flying a figh…
Episode 39: The Holiday: Deploying at Christmas on the CC-130J Super Hercules - Mike B
What is it like to deploy away from your loved ones at Christmas? In this special Christmas episode, we'll dive into what it feels like to experience what thousands of CAF members have felt before - …
Episode 38: The Operator: Changing from SOF to Pilot - Ben
What is it like to be a member of the elite force known as CJIRU? Why switch from Special Operations Forces Operator to Pilot? What challenges and opportunities do the trades have in common, and what…
Episode 37: The Veteran: Remembrance Day and a Career to Remember Part 2 - Duncan
What was it like to fly the legendary CP-121 Tracker, or the mighty CP-140 Aurora when it was a new aircraft? Duncan MacIsaac served for 27 years in the Regular Force and another 8 in the Reserves. H…
Episode 36: The Veteran: Remembrance Day and a Career to Remember Part 1 - Duncan
What was it like to go through Moose Jaw in the 1970s? To fly the Sea King? To fly the legendary Tracker, or the mighty Aurora when it was a new aircraft? Duncan MacIsaac served for 27 years in the R…
Episode 35: The Selection: The Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Test Part 2 - Dave
All RCAF pilots must pass through the Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Centre (CFASC) - but what does it take to make it through? We sat down with Dave Chamberlin, former CO of CFASC, to find out ex…
Episode 34: The Selection: The Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Test Part 1 - Dave
All RCAF pilots must pass through the Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Centre (CFASC) - but what does it take to make it through? We sat down with Dave Chamberlin, former CO of CFASC, to find out ex…
Episode 33: The Leader: Part 2 - Developing Coaching Leaders in the RCAF- Scott C
How can a pilot strive to be a better leader both in the cockpit and on the ground? What is the RCAF doing well for leadership, and what do they need to work on? Today for part 2 of this interview we…
Episode 32: The Leader: Part 1 - Developing Coaching Leaders in the RCAF- Scott C
What does it take to be a leader in the RCAF? How does that translate to being a good pilot? What is the difference between coaching and leading, and how can we utilize both skillsets? Today we'll si…
Episode 31: The Cormorant Trophy: Conducting a Rescue in the CH-146 Griffon- Paula
A plane is down. Help is needed. You get the call. What is it like to know that seconds count? What happens when you're fuel critical and have a patient that needs to get to a hospital? What does it …
Episode 30: The Watcher: Afghanistan Stories and The IAI Heron - Carson
What is it like to take overwatch on Canadian troops on patrol in Afghanistan? What was it like when Kandahar Airfield came under attack? What is the future of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS…
Episode 29: The Student: Part 2 - Life on Phase III Mult-Engine and the C-90B King Air - Scott
What is it like to train on the C90B King Air in the RCAF? How has the Phase III Multi-Engine course changed recently? What is it like to take to the skies in a King Air - without your instructor? In…
Episode 28: The Phoenix - From the Ashes to the Airwaves, the return of the show! - Bryan and Melissa
Where has the show been? What's been happening with Bryan's career and mental health? What will the show look like moving forward? We'll answer all these questions and have some fun along the way in …