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 a ...
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Episode 37: The Veteran: Remembrance Day and a Career to Remember Part 2 - Duncan
1:04:03
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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. He has flown many aircraft types in the RCAF, and has a ton of experience to share. Part 2 of our 2 part Remembrance Day episode will feature Duncan's t…
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Episode 36: The Veteran: Remembrance Day and a Career to Remember Part 1 - Duncan
49:30
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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 Regular Force and another 8 in the Reserves. He has flown many aircraft types in the RCAF, and has a ton of experience to share. Part 1 will feature Dun…
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Episode 35: The Selection: The Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Test Part 2 - Dave
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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 exactly that - and much more! Today we'll discuss questions that you the audience asked as well as some FAQs they hear fairly often at CFASC. Join us tod…
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Episode 34: The Selection: The Canadian Forces Aircrew Selection Test Part 1 - Dave
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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 exactly that - and much more! Dave has a multitude of experience, having flown and taught on the CT-155 Hawk and the CF-188 Hornet, as well as the CC-130…
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Episode 33: The Leader: Part 2 - Developing Coaching Leaders in the RCAF- Scott C
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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'll sit down with MGen(Ret) Scott Clancy and talk about some of the successes and challenges Scott faced as a leader, what challenges the RCAF faces in…
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Episode 32: The Leader: Part 1 - Developing Coaching Leaders in the RCAF- Scott C
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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 sit down with MGen(Ret) Scott Clancy and talk all things leadership as well as his book "Developing Coaching Leaders". Scott served for 37 years in the R…
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Episode 31: The Cormorant Trophy: Conducting a Rescue in the CH-146 Griffon- Paula
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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 take to earn the coveted Cormorant Trophy? Paula Findlater is a Search and Rescue pilot in the RCAF. She has over 1000 hours on the CH-146 Griffon flyi…
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Episode 30: The Watcher: Afghanistan Stories and The IAI Heron - Carson
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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) in Canada? In this episode, we sit down with Carson Choy, an Air Combat Systems Officer who flies on the CP-140M Aurora. Carson did two tours in Afgh…
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Episode 29: The Student: Part 2 - Life on Phase III Mult-Engine and the C-90B King Air - Scott
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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 this episode we check back in with Scott Harding, recently winged graduate of the RCAF Phase III Multi-Engine course. This is a continuation of episod…
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Episode 28: The Phoenix - From the Ashes to the Airwaves, the return of the show! - Bryan and Melissa
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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 this week's episode of The Pilot Project Podcast!By Bryan Morrison
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Hey everyone! We'll be taking a short pause in releasing episodes while we deal with some circumstances outside of our control. Rest assured we will be back up and running ASAP with the same great content you expect from us! Cheers!By Bryan Morrison
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Episode 27: The Guardian: Helicopter Search and Rescue in the RCAF and the CH-149 Cormorant - Paul
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What is it like to help save a life? What does it take to hoist a SARTech onto a ship in rough seas, at night, in a storm? Why is it so important to treat aviation like a team sport? Paul has flown search and rescue out of Goose Bay, Labrador and Greenwood, Nova Scotia. He has conducted many rescues and SAR missions, and has had to learn some tough…
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Episode 26: Remembrance Day: Tactical Airlift and the CC-130H, Remembering the Fallen - Mike H
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What is it like to airdrop cargo into a Forward Operating Base in the middle of a firefight? How does it feel to find out you're going to an active warzone? What is it like to regularly be exposed to rocket attacks? What's it like to attend dozens of repatriation ceremonies? For Mike, all these things became part of normal life as he went through h…
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Episode 25: The Advance Party: Flying with the Snowbirds, Ejecting from the CT-114 Tutor, and Remembering Jenn Casey - Rich
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What do the Advance and Safety Pilots do for the Snowbirds? What is the tryout process like? What does it feel like to eject, and how do you come back from the tragedy of losing a friend and teammate? Rich Macdougall has flown NORAD and air refueling missions around the globe as a Tanker Commander on the CC-130H Hercules. Later, after instructing o…
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Episode 24: The Deployment: Afghanistan Stories - Greg
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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…
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Episode 23: Military Family Appreciation Day: Spouse Perspectives - Melissa, Janet, McKayla, Lyndsay
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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 depl…
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Episode 22: Remembering September 11, 2001: Canadian perspectives - Rob, Shelley, Bert
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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 wor…
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Episode 21: The teacher, The Snowbird, The Student: A life as a pilot in the RCAF - Blake
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What does it feel like to instruct the next generation of RCAF pilots? What about flying on the Snowbirds? How can vulnerability lead to new learning opportunities? Blake has flown the CT-156 Harvard, the CT-155 Hawk, been an instructor at 2CFFTS, flew with the Snowbird demonstration team for several seasons and now recently completed his training …
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Episode 20: The Recruiter: Everything you want to know about joining the RCAF as a Pilot - Paul
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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…
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Episode 19: The Sailor: Maritime Helicopter and the CH-148 Cyclone - Corey
1:07:11
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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 hi…
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Episode 18: The Hunter: Long Range Patrol and the CP-140M Aurora - Davis
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What does it take to make it as a submarine hunter? What about as an instructor on the Harvard II at the Big 2 in Moose Jaw? Davis has seen it and done it around the world in the Aurora, and gone to many amazing places in the Harvard. After years of flying the Aurora, several tours overseas and instructing at Moose Jaw, Davis has transitioned to ci…
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Episode 17: The Freeze: Everything you want to know about the DEO Pilot Hiring Freeze - John
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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 …
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Episode 16: The Hauler: Air Mobility, Tactical Airlift, and the CC-130J Super Hercules - Skye
1:11:57
1:11:57
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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,…
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Episode 15: The Student: Part 1 - Life on Phase I and the Grob G-120A – Scott
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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 …
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Episode 14: The Support: Combat Support, the CH-146 Griffon and Thomas “Toast” McQueen – Vic
1:08:25
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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…
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Episode 13: The Cost: My journey with PTSD, anxiety, and mental health in the RCAF - Bryan and Melissa
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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-…
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Episode 12: The Heavy: Air Mobility, Strategic Airlift and the CC-177 Globemaster III - John
1:08:45
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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 succ…
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Episode 11: The Tanker: Air Mobility, Air-to-Air Refuelling and the CC-150 Polaris - Jeff
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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 f…
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Episode 10: The Wait: Training Delays and how we'll fix them - Colin and Morty
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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 som…
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Episode 9: The Valkyrie: Tac Hel, Mali, and the CH-147F Chinook - Jackie
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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…
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Episode 8: The Explorer: Arctic flying and the CC-138 Twin Otter - Ryan
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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…
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Episode 7: The Grunt: Tac Hel and the CH-146 Griffon - Pete
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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…
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Episode 6: The Teacher: Part 5 - Phase III Fast Jet Training and the CT-155 Hawk - Jules
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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 my…
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Episode 5: The Teacher: Part 4 - Phase III Multi-Engine Training and the C90B King Air - Dan
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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…
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Episode 4: The Teacher: Part 3 - Phase III Helicopter Flight Training and the Bell 206 and Bell 412 - Vic
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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 Can…
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Episode 3: A Very Special Deployed Christmas Episode: Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, and home - Greg, Rob, Mom, and Jack
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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 b…
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Episode 2: The Teacher: Part 2 - Phase II Flight Training and the CT-156 Harvard II - Lauren
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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 inst…
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Episode 1: The Teacher: Part 1 - Phase I Flight Training and the G120A Grob - Dawn
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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 ta…
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Episode 0: The Pilot Episode - Trailer and Introduction - Bryan
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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 Bry…
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