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PODCAST

The Pilot Project Podcast

Welcome to The Pilot Project Podcast, your premier source for stories and insights from pilots in the RCAF and mission aviation - brought to you by Skies Magazine! Whether you"re an aspiring aviator, navigating flight training, or simply fascinated by the world of military and mission aviation, this podcast is your guide. We sit down with pilots and aviation professionals to hear their thrilling experiences, lessons learned, and expert advice on resilience, training, and the skills needed to succeed

leisure aviation

All Episodes

53:34

Episode 60: The CAPCOM: Earning the Elsie MacGill...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/07/01

How does a MARS Officer and Ship’s Team Diver become a Special Operations helicopter pilot? What does it take to get through the intense rigours of Phase III helicopter training — and then make the leap to 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron?In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards, a SOF Aircraft Commander, recipient of the prestigious Elsie MacGill Award, and currently serving as a CAPCOM at NASA in Houston.We explore her remarkable journey through the Canadian Armed

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66:33

Episode 59: The Seeker: Fixed Wing Search and Rescue...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/06/24

What did it take to fly Search and Rescue in the venerable (but aging) CC-115 Buffalo? What does it feel like to return to 3CFFTS as a seasoned pilot, ready to learn about the world of instructing? What's it like to be taught by your former students as you learn to fly the CC-130H Hercules? Today we sit down for part 2 of our interview with Major Dan Conway, a fixed-wing SAR pilot with over 4000 hours of experience. We'll talk about all these topics as well as the future of fixed-wing SAR

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59:34

Episode 58: The Seeker: Fixed Wing Search and Rescue...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/06/17

What is it like to attend RMC and go through flight training in the RCAF? Why was the CC-115 Buffalo in Comox a desirable posting even with the airplane entering its sunset years? Major Dan Conway is the current Deputy Commanding Officer (DCO) of 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Greenwood NS, and soon to be the DCO of 3CFFTS in Portage la Prairie, MB. He has over 4000 flying hours including lots of fixed-wing SAR on the CC-115 Buffalo and the CC-130H Hercules. Today we sit down with Dan

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64:30

Episode 57: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/06/10

What does it take to take on the responsibility of being the Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (COS CPCC) in the wake of the larger culture change effort that the Canadian Armed Forces has pursued over the last 10 or more years? Why is culture change necessary, and what does it even mean within the context of the military? Major-General Jeannot Boucher is a helicopter pilot with over 3000 flight hours. He has the experience at the tactical and command level to understand

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50:04

Episode 56: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/06/03

What does it feel like to deploy as the Commander of Task Force Jerusalem in support of OP PROTEUS in the West Bank? What does it take to take over various commands in the Tactical Helicopter force? What goes into developing a defence policy update like "Our North Strong and Free" (ONSAF)? Today we sit down for part 2 of our chat with Major-General Jeannot Boucher, an experienced helicopter pilot with over 3000 flight hours and the current Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and

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57:35

Episode 55: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/05/27

What was it like to deploy to Afghanistan as the Deputy Commanding Officer of Canadian Helicopter Forces in Afghanistan (CHFA)? What was the Tactical Helicopter role in Afghanistan at the time and how violent was it in 2009? Today we sit down with Major-General Jeannot Boucher, Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (COS CPCC). Jeannot has over 3000 flying hours, and has definitely been there and done that. Tune in today for part 1 of our 3 part discussion on his career and

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78:44

Episode 54: The Jet Jockey: Supersonic Stories:...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/05/20

What was it like to be one of the first cadres to fly the might CF-188 Hornet? What did it feel like to operate in Europe on the edge of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War? What was it like to deploy in support of the Gulf War? Dan "Alf" McWilliams is a retired RCAF Fighter pilot who operated during the Cold War. Today we sit down and talk about his operational life and focus on some stories from his book, "Supersonic Stories". Dan's books can be here:Tutor TalesSupersonic Stories

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72:26

Episode 53: The Jet Jockey: Tutor Tales: Flying and...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/05/13

What was it like to live in Germany on a NATO base during the Cold War as a teenager? What does it feel like to follow in your dad's footsteps and achieve your dreams to become a jet pilot? What was it like to instruct at "The Big 2" Moose Jaw when there could be up to 30 CT-114 Tutors flying at once? Today we sit down with Cold War fighter pilot Dan "Alf" McWilliams. Dan has a ton of fighter and instructional experience and is a wealth of knowledge and interesting stories. Today's

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70:00

Episode 52: The Commander: Commanding the RCAF and...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/05/06

What is it like to command the RCAF? What is the RCAF good at, and what needs fixing? Who are our potential main adversaries and why? What challenges will we face as we pursue modernization? Have US politics (as of recording mid-March) affected our strategies with the F35 and other acquisitions? What does the future hold for the RCAF? We will talk about all of this and much more, plus questions from the audience in this interview with Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander of the RCAF

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61:10

Episode 51: The Commander: Commanding the RCAF and...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/04/29

What does it take to complete Canada's "Top Gun", the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course? What is it like to deploy to Bosnia or take part in the bombing campaign in Kosovo with real air-to-air and ground-to-air threats? What does it take to coordinate strikes in Afghanistan? How are we shifting from a counter-insurgency to peer-to-peer warfighting mentality? Today we have Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander of the RCAF on the show to discuss all these things and much more. Eric has

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51:29

Episode 50: The Inferno: Aerial Firefighting in the...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/04/22

What did it take to get the Pasisade Fires under control in LA County, California in the winter of 2025? How does aerial firefighting compare in Quebec and California? In this final part of our 2 part series on aerial firefighting, we sit down once again with aerial firefighter Pascal Duclos. Pascal has been fighting fires across Canada and the United States for many years, but this year he encountered conditions he had never previously seen. Tune in today to hear about bringing the LA

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62:20

Episode 49: The Inferno: Aerial Firefighting in the...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/04/15

What was it like to deploy to Los Angeles and fight the infamous fires of the winter of 2025? What does it take to hit the fires with precision every time? How difficult is it to scoop from a heavy sea state on the ocean, or from tight quarters in a California reservoir? In this episode we sit down with aerial firefighter Pascal Duclos. Pascal has been fighting fires across Canada and the United States for many years, but this year he encountered conditions he had never previously seen

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80:49

Episode 48: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/04/08

What modernization projects and new aircraft is the RCAF getting? Why does the RCAF need a warfighting focus moving forward? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about the exciting new modernization projects and aircraft that are coming online in the near future (or are already here) like the MQ9B SkyGuardian and the CF35A Lightning, as well as the new focus on warfighting for

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64:14

Episode 47: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/04/01

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, or 1 CAD, and have 5 different official jobs? What modernization projects and new aircraft is the RCAF getting? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about his time in Mali, his time as the Commander of 1 Wing

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68:52

Episode 46: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/03/25

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 hours and is currently the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about his early flight training, his deployments to Afghanistan, as well as his time as the Commanding Officer of 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron flying the CH-147F Chinook. Tune in today!

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61:12

Episode 45: The Merge: Changes to the podcast,...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/03/18

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 the jump from publisher to having an aviation podcast network? Today, we sit down with renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher Mike Reyno to discuss his many adventures and experiences in air-to-air photography and beyond.

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54:46

Episode 44: The Merge: Changes to the podcast,...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/03/04

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 extensively with the RCAF conducting air-to-air photography with every Squadron in the RCAF? What does it take to get the perfect shot - and what gets you noticed by a publisher? We will talk about this and much more on today's episode of The Pilot Project Podcast.

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86:38

Episode 43: The Service Couple: Being an RCAF aircrew...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/02/18

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 couple from dating at RMC to the trials of being unmarried and long-distance, to finally the ups and downs of being a married service couple in two busy trades. Join us today on The Pilot Project Podcast to hear all about their story!

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67:13

Episode 42: The Wing Commander: Commanding 15 Wing...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/02/04

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 best of the best? Colonel Dan Coutts is the current Wing Commander of 15 Wing Moose Jaw. In part 2 of our chat with him, we will discuss current and future plans for pilot flight training in Moose Jaw, we'll talk about why he continues to pursue flight even at the rank of Colonel, and we'll go into

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62:01

Episode 41: The Wing Commander: Commanding 15 Wing...

The Pilot Project Podcast ·

2025/01/21

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 Support in Afghanistan? How do you take 400 Reserve Tactical Helicopter Squadron and help prepare them for high readiness status? Colonel Dan Coutts is the current Wing Commander of 15 Wing Moose Jaw. In part 1 of our chat with him, we will discuss his early flying days, some of his deployments, as

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