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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 develop before arriving in Moose Jaw, advice for the first week of training, and a message for anyone questioning whether they belong after a difficult flight. Find Zoran at: https://www.instagram.com/kizoperformancewww.kizo.ca CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:02:40) Mental Performance Coaching Among Our Allies(00:09:04) What's New in Mental Performance Coaching?(00:18:07) The Future of Mental Performance in RCAF Training(00:24:41) Preparing for a Debrief When You Think You've Failed(00:31:00) Honest Self-Assessment vs. Beating Yourself Up(00:38:06) Rebuilding Confidence After Failure(00:47:39) Sustaining Performance: Do You Have to Earn Recovery?(00:53:24) Knowing When to Push Harder and When to Rest(00:57:07) Three Tips Before Arriving in Moose Jaw(01:00:42) Habits to Start Building Now(01:02:20) Your First Week at Moose Jaw(01:04:20) Performance Advice Pilots Should Stop Following(01:06:46) Where to Find Zoran's Resources(01:08:29) A Message After Your Worst Flight(01:11:34) How to Connect with Zoran CONTINUE THE FLIGHT Catch up on the first two parts of Built for Pressure: Part 1: From Elite Sport to RCAF Pilot Training – Zoran StojkovićPart 2: Practical Mental Performance for RCAF Pilots – Zoran Stojković https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/ EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots: The Pilot Project Podcast episode archive:https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/

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. Chapters (00:00:00) Welcome and introduction(00:01:08) Why students freeze during a test(00:07:00) Preparing an Olympian versus preparing a pilot(00:08:36) Can you perform well while feeling nervous?(00:15:26) Tomorrow’s checkride: when to stop studying(00:18:48) Building a useful pre-flight mental routine(00:22:46) Making visualization and chair flying effective(00:29:04) Adapting when the schedule or mission changes(00:32:43) Performance cues and constructive self-talk(00:41:55) Closing the gap between practice and cockpit performance(00:44:13) Breathing as a performance tool while flying(00:51:50) The OODA loop and helmet fires(00:54:33) Recognizing when you’re falling behind the aircraft(00:59:49) Resetting after a mistake in the cockpit(01:03:14) Helping a student recover after a difficult flight(01:06:13) Thanks and a look ahead to Part 3 Explore the Logbook Continue from Part 1: PERFORMANCE & SAFETY: BUILT FOR PRESSURE Part 1: From Elite Sport to RCAF Pilot Training – Zoran Stojković. Explore Zoran’s work: His Built for Pressure podcast and Kizo Performance resources are discussed throughout this episode. Ask about the visualization resource: Zoran invites listeners to contact him through Kizo Performance on Instagram about resources, including the visualization template discussed in the interview. Have a question, a guest suggestion or an idea for a future episode? Contact [email protected] or find us on social media @podpilotproject. Help with the big three: like and follow us on social media, share with your friends, and follow and rate us five stars wherever you get your podcasts. Keep the blue side up!

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 to his work. We also hear how Zoran supported aircrew during Jaw South in Texas, how mental performance coaching became embedded in the flying environment, and what aviation taught him about the difference between high stakes and real stakes. CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Introduction, welcome and bio(00:01:52) What role did sport play growing up?(00:04:28) Why can we perform in practice but struggle under pressure?(00:09:41) When did mental performance become a career?(00:13:03) What did Zoran get wrong when he started coaching?(00:15:21) What kind of pressure are Olympians under?(00:18:35) Helping a professional tennis player turn things around(00:20:22) Going from athletes to pilots(00:23:23) Walking into 2CFFTS for the first time(00:26:53) What surprised Zoran about the pressure on student pilots?(00:30:13) High stakes versus real stakes(00:31:37) Earning credibility in aviation as an outsider(00:34:17) What happens when pilots don’t buy into mental performance coaching?(00:38:44) A pilot success story(00:42:36) Deploying with Jaw South(00:47:27) What is Jaw South, and where did Zoran fit in?(00:51:57) Helping a student in crisis before a flight(00:53:49) Making progress in a slow-moving institution(00:57:03) Meeting Colonel Jeremy Hansen(01:01:30) Advice for a student pilot before a test EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots: The Pilot Project Podcast episode archive:https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

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 CANSOFCOM. The conversation explores the rapid growth of uncrewed aircraft, counter-UAS and space capabilities, lessons emerging from real-world allied experience, and Todd’s advice for anyone considering special operations aviation. He closes by recognizing the mentors, colleagues and family members who made his remarkable career possible. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilotshttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes (00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:02:03) Instructing at 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School(00:04:18) Returning to Fixed-Wing Flying(00:07:58) Converting from the Tutor to the Harvard(00:09:21) Why Flight Instructing Is So Difficult(00:11:12) The Most Rewarding Part of Instructing(00:12:45) When Students Arrive Unprepared(00:14:29) Returning to Fix a Missed Opportunity(00:16:46) Returning to Moose Jaw as Commandant(00:19:03) Being Both an Instructor and a Principal(00:19:47) Influencing the Student Experience as Commandant(00:21:03) Mentorship and Perspective(00:23:33) The Weight of Ending a Student’s Training(00:25:24) How Students React to Being Told They Are Done(00:26:59) Why the Good Days Outweigh the Bad(00:29:46) Returning to 427 Squadron in 2003(00:32:43) Commanding B Flight(00:36:48) The Difference Between Elite and Elitist(00:38:05) When 427 Squadron Began Drifting Apart(00:39:47) Developing Maritime Counterterrorism Capabilities(00:44:17) Standing Up CANSOFCOM(00:45:47) Transforming Tactical Helicopter Aviation into SOF Aviation(00:47:41) Why Todd Retired from the RCAF(00:49:56) Lessons from Civilian Aviation(00:52:52) Military and Civilian Workplace Cultures(00:54:18) Returning to the RCAF(00:56:30) The Director Air and Space Mandate(00:59:17) How Canadian SOF Aviation Is Evolving(01:01:48) Learning from Allies(01:03:51) Special Operations in a Changing World(01:04:46) Advice for Joining Special Operations Aviation(01:07:17) Todd’s Remaining Career Goals(01:08:56) Recognizing the People Behind His Career(01:11:39) Closing the Series

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 Liaison Officer to developing new helicopter insertion tactics at Dwyer Hill. The episode explores the people, missions and “refuse to lose” culture that helped transform a fragile domestic counterterrorism capability into the foundation of modern Canadian special operations aviation. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots  https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:01:57) Somalia with 427 Squadron(00:05:58) The Danger of Dustballs(00:10:51) A Helicopter Crash in a Dustball(00:13:21) A First Taste of Special Operations(00:16:09) The Somalia Affair(00:20:02) The Aftermath of the Somalia Affair(00:24:03) Flying with the RCMP: The Road to SOF Aviation(00:25:51) Becoming JTF2’s First Air Liaison Officer(00:28:33) What Is Dwyer Hill?(00:29:49) Witnessing the Beginning of Canadian SOF History(00:33:53) How SOF Culture Changed After Somalia(00:35:37) Overcoming Personal Challenges(00:39:13) Flying Special Operations Missions with the RCMP(00:41:49) Developing New Tactics(00:43:54) Seeing Those Tactics Still in Use(00:45:24) The “Refuse to Lose” Mindset(00:48:32) Closing and a Preview of Part 4

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 goggles, when crews developed procedures while learning the technology in real time. From driving a Jeep on NVGs to leading 12-ship formations at night, the episode captures a pivotal transformation in Canadian military helicopter operations. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilotshttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes Chapters (00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:01:53) First Deployment: The Mission in the Sinai Desert(00:04:26) Navigating the Desert with Paper Maps(00:07:02) Flying Over the Sinai’s Unforgiving Terrain(00:09:30) Dangerous Nighttime Approaches in the Desert(00:13:08) A Helicopter Crash in the Sinai Desert(00:20:15) “What Are You Doing Friday?” Deploying to Honduras(00:21:34) The Canadian Helicopter Mission in Honduras(00:23:24) Living “On the Economy” in Honduras(00:25:47) Which Is Harder: Desert or Jungle Flying?(00:27:29) The Challenges of Low-Level Jungle Flying(00:28:55) Did Flying in Honduras Feel Like Vietnam?(00:29:27) Playing Cat and Mouse with a Three-Letter Organization(00:32:09) Tactical Aviation Culture in the 1980s(00:35:19) Did Tactical Aviators Feel Stuck?(00:37:37) The Early Days of Night-Vision Flying(00:40:41) Crew Rest in Tactical Aviation(00:42:15) Flying 12-Ship Formations at Night(00:45:02) The Physical Cost of Flying with NVGs

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 rotary-wing flying, from hovering and auto-rotations to the hard-earned change in attitude that helped him find his place in tactical aviation. The episode concludes with advice for student pilots whose careers take an unexpected direction. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots   https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes Chapters(00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:03:02) Meet Colonel Todd O’Malley(00:04:37) What Drew Todd to the RCAF?(00:07:48) Sault College and a Different Path(00:09:29) Being Removed from Flight Training(00:12:13) The Lesson That Changed His Career(00:15:14) Pilot Training Culture in 1980s Moose Jaw(00:20:34) Navigating Phase Two Flight Training(00:24:05) Coping with a Helicopter Selection(00:27:56) Why Helicopters Are So Difficult to Learn(00:30:58) How a Helicopter Autorotation Works(00:34:37) Learning from Hard Landings(00:38:46) Re-Caging His Attitude Toward Helicopters(00:41:35) Finding His Place in Tactical Aviation(00:44:30) Arriving at a Grieving 427 Squadron(00:45:30) Twin Huey vs. Griffon(00:48:43) Making the Most of an Unexpected Aircraft Selection(00:51:51) Final Thoughts and What’s Next

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 Tutor, and why the Snowbirds continue to inspire Canadians more than 50 years after their first season. Join us as we conclude the story behind The Boss. Chapters (00:00:58) Introduction and welcome(00:03:34) What led you to the Snowbirds?(00:04:50) Deferring Test Pilot School for the Snowbirds(00:07:01) Why the Snowbirds were turning away jet pilots(00:08:33) Can you become Snowbird 1 as a first-year Snowbird?(00:10:07) Going through Snowbird selection(00:17:23) Snowbirds formation cues(00:23:34) Are you looking at your instruments during formation flying?(00:25:58) What was harder than you expected on the Snowbirds?(00:28:02) Match's mid-air collision(00:37:33) Did they lose trust in you?(00:38:54) Lessons from the first tour that still shape Snowbird 1(00:40:58) Why return to the Snowbirds?(00:44:42) What did it mean to become Snowbird 1?(00:46:25) Does it feel different to be the boss?(00:51:31) Selecting Snowbird 1(00:53:19) The three qualities of a successful Snowbird(00:55:14) Why Snowbirds have to be "always on"(00:59:28) The people behind the scenes who make it happen(01:03:55) What makes this season special?(01:05:55) Why preseason flying went so well(01:08:11) What can audiences expect this season?(01:12:19) The canopy-to-canopy roll(01:14:49) The legacy of the CT-114 Tutor(01:17:51) What should Canadians take away from this season?(01:20:20) Thanks and what's next! CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots. https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

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 and low level flying in the C-17 to testing the CF-18's AESA radar and helping modernize the CT-114 Tutor, this episode offers a rare look into the world of flight testing and the people responsible for pushing aviation forward. Chapters (00:00:58) Introduction and welcome(00:02:06) AETE tryouts(00:08:30) When was it time to go to Test Pilot School?(00:09:39) Was there a specific school you wanted to attend?(00:10:40) Moving to Edwards Air Force Base(00:10:57) Experiencing Test Pilot School as a family(00:12:28) How COVID changed life in California(00:15:31) How difficult is Test Pilot School?(00:18:39) Pilot brain versus engineer brain(00:21:05) Who excelled and who struggled?(00:27:30) The hardest part of Test Pilot School(00:29:25) The mindset shift from operations to test flying(00:32:53) Lake Mead touch and goes in the Albatross(00:38:24) Deep stalls in the F-16 Viper(00:42:12) Flying the F-16 as an extension of your body(00:48:15) The Sidewinder low level route(00:53:11) Singing the praises of the C-17(00:54:06) Joining AETE(00:58:05) Testing the Hornet's AESA radar(01:01:45) The first live AIM-9X missile shot(01:04:20) Rare moments at AETE(01:09:01) Helping modernize the CT-114 Tutor(01:16:06) Top test flight moments CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots. https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

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 sorties over Libya, and the lessons that shaped him long before he would one day lead the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Join us as we begin the story behind The Boss. Chapters(00:00:58) Introduction and bio(00:03:09) Where did aviation start for you?(00:05:44) When did flying become the dream?(00:06:57) The importance of Air Cadets(00:08:48) Glider and power courses with Air Cadets(00:09:52) From Air Cadets to the Canadian Armed Forces(00:10:32) A charted path or uncertainty?(00:11:16) Vision issues nearly end the dream(00:14:51) How Match earned his pilot medical(00:16:48) Keeping the dream alive(00:19:39) Phase 1 flight training(00:21:26) Arriving in Moose Jaw(00:23:16) What kind of student pilot was Match?(00:24:36) How Match stopped getting airsick(00:25:36) What came naturally and what humbled him(00:28:05) When fighters became realistic(00:33:24) Jumping into FLIT(00:37:34) What comes after FLIT?(00:39:33) Learning the CF-18 Hornet(00:43:53) The flying is not the mission(00:44:23) Surprises of operational fighter life(00:47:52) Flying NORAD missions(00:55:47) Does air-to-air refuelling ever stop being intimidating?(00:57:35) Flying 22 combat sorties over Libya(00:58:37) The first combat mission(01:01:32) Learning from mistakes(01:02:46) How military flying changed his perspective(01:07:02) Thanks and what's next! Check out the video that started it all!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24Z1Q1JBnSk CONTINUE THE FLIGHTEXPLORE THE LOGBOOK More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots. https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

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 Aviation. This episode offers a rare perspective on 427 SOAS from the Commanding Officer himself. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:01:48) Inside the Special Operations Tactical Aviation Course (SOTAC)(00:02:54) How SOTAC Changed Special Operations Training(00:04:07) Learning to Fight Alongside the Rest of the RCAF(00:05:57) Building the First Generation of SOTAC Graduates(00:06:44) Creating Canada's Next Special Operations Aviators(00:07:58) Preparing for the Worst Day of Your Career(00:11:51) Keeping SOTAC Ready for Tomorrow's Missions(00:13:19) Is SOTAC a Selection Course?(00:13:40) Who Can Become a Special Operations Aviator?(00:15:43) The Role of a 427 Squadron Door Gunner(00:16:44) The Traits Every SOF Aviator Needs(00:17:29) Choosing a Career in Special Operations Aviation(00:20:34) What Separates Success from Failure?(00:23:49) Driving Innovation Across the RCAF(00:25:26) The Future of NTACS(00:28:17) Balancing Operational Service and Family Life(00:31:39) Supporting Families Behind the Mission(00:33:28) What It Means to Command 427 Squadron(00:34:01) Seeing the Squadron Through a Commanding Officer's Eyes(00:35:02) Leading in a Flat Organization(00:37:02) The Leader Chris Bray Strives to Be(00:39:32) The Future of Canadian Special Operations Aviation(00:41:31) How to Earn a Place at 427 Squadron(00:44:27) Looking Back with Pride(00:45:25) Final Thoughts

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 command, and how 427 built a reputation for professionalism, adaptability, and trust while supporting special operations around the world. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Introduction and Welcome(00:02:41) How 427 Squadron Reinvented Itself(00:03:39) Building One Special Operations Aviation Culture(00:06:49) Why the Squadron Had to Change(00:09:44) Living Through the Transformation(00:13:10) Earning a Reputation in Special Operations Aviation(00:14:49) "No Mission Too Small"(00:18:46) Expanding the Mission with the CE-145C Vigilance(00:20:44) Learning to Think Beyond Helicopters(00:22:53) What Makes 427 Different?(00:26:21) Becoming an Organic CANSOFCOM Capability(00:28:44) The Professionals Behind Every Mission(00:30:04) Why Communications Can Make or Break a Mission(00:31:12) Building Trust with Canada's Special Operations Forces(00:33:44) Maintaining Elite Standards(00:37:52) Rewriting the Rules: The New TOCA(00:41:35) The Career Path of a Special Operations Aviator(00:44:57) Balancing Risk and Mission Success(00:46:22) Leading an Elite Squadron(00:47:34) The Hardest Decisions as Commanding Officer(00:49:57) Next Time: Inside SOTAC

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 at 427 Squadron and the mindset, professionalism, and leadership required to serve within one of Canada's most unique aviation communities. CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOK More stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Introduction and bio(00:03:47) Why Chris Chose the Canadian Armed Forces(00:04:36) Discovering a Passion for Helicopters(00:10:47) Learning the Mission at JRCC Halifax(00:13:13) Surviving RCAF Pilot Training(00:14:05) Learning to Fly Rotary Wing(00:16:02) The Leap from Fixed Wing to Helicopters(00:17:54) Mastering Confined Area Flying(00:19:23) When Flying Finally Clicked(00:20:13) Earning a Spot at 427 Squadron(00:21:10) How Special Operations Aviators Are Selected(00:23:30) First Impressions of 427 Squadron(00:25:28) How 427 Squadron Evolved(00:26:24) Starting Out in B Flight(00:29:29) First Operational Deployments(00:31:39) Flying on Operation IMPACT(00:32:08) Operating in a Combat Threat Environment(00:33:11) What Makes Special Operations Aviation Different(00:36:40) The Future of Canada's Tactical Helicopter Fleet(00:39:11) Inside a Special Operations Mission(00:41:02) Growing into Leadership(00:42:04) From Pilot to Leader(00:47:06) Becoming a Special Operations Flight Lead(00:48:04) Leadership Under Pressure(00:50:24) Returning to Operation IMPACT as Detachment Commander(00:51:24) Leading Aircrew in a Threat Environment(00:52:24) Building the Future Force(00:54:26) Lessons from Strategic Leadership(00:57:48) Coming Up in Part 2

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, the CH-146 Griffon, and many other aircraft, this episode explores the realities of operational military aviation through the voices of those who lived it. Whether you've been with us since Episode 1 or you're discovering The Pilot Project for the first time, The First 100 Series is the best place to start. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. The Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (CFMAP) provides confidential assistance to Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and their families. You can contact them at: 1-800-268-7708https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/member-assistance.html CHAPTERS (00:00:58) Introduction(00:03:03) Act 1: Contact - Greg Juurlink - I was a brand new FO(00:07:20) Eric Kenny - The missile exploded between us(00:09:26) Troy Clarke - Is this what SAR is going to be?(00:13:00) Anthony Dyer - My first CASEVAC ever(00:14:50) Davis Clark - You don't know if it's a threat or not(00:17:05) Act 2: The Line - Greg Juurlink - We got shot up(00:23:00) Bob Wade - Escorting MiGs to Canada(00:25:45) Dan McWilliams - Never fly into vortices(00:28:40) Pete Wright & Greg Hudson - This is what we signed up for, let's go!(00:30:39) Niels Olson - You don't know which way is up(00:31:22) Dan McWilliams - Less than a wingspan above the ground(00:32:12) Niels Olson - Certified Cocaine Boat!(00:34:27) Bob Wade - One of you is going to die(00:35:29) Act 3: The Ones We Lost - Greg Juurlink - Angel Flights in Afghanistan(00:37:08) Vic Weston - Tom "Toast" McQueen(00:40:38) Anthony Dyer - It's a smell you never forget(00:41:43) Dan McWilliams - Timothy Kirk Leuty(00:43:02) Rich MacDougall - Jenn Casey(00:49:16) Mike Houle - Shattering Grief(00:53:13) Act 4: The Burden - Greg Juurlink - A full bucket(00:55:33) Bryan Morrison - I'm not OK(00:58:45) Vic Weston - I'm not good to go(00:59:58) Paul Goddard - You can't save everybody(01:01:22) Dan McWilliams - Fears that last(01:02:35) Lyndsay Olson - The Hardest Deployment(01:04:41) Niels Olson - The Weight of Distance(01:05:20) Janet Musters - Everything AND the Kitchen Sink(01:06:36) Rich MacDougall - Your life has just changed forever(01:08:59) Act 5: Blue Skies and the Way Forward - Bob Wade - A consequence of doing what you did(01:10:03) Bryan Morrison - The value of my career vs everything else(01:12:03) Anthony Dyer - Better or bitter(01:13:45) Greg Juurlink - The most important thing is asking for help(01:15:00) Bob Wade - I miss the boys(01:15:52) Vic Weston - Honouring Tom "Toast" McQueen(01:17:42) Rich MacDougall - She was a force to be reckoned with(01:19:37) Paul Goddard - As good as it gets(01:20:01) Mike Houle - Don't Hide the Pain(01:20:26) Vic Weston - Keep movin' forward(01:20:43) Outro and Special Thank You CONTINUE THE FLIGHT EXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots

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. CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro/Cold open(00:01:31) Act 1: The Spark - Dan McWilliams - First Fighter Flight(00:03:09) Bob Wade - The Wonder of the Golden Hawks(00:03:46) Mike Houle - Hercs Over the Lake(00:05:05) Vince C-Benoit - Wheat Fields in Afghanistan(00:05:57) Rock Veilleux - Gliding with Air Cadets(00:08:44) Act 2: The Grind - Mike Houle - The Firehose(00:09:58) Dan Conway - First Real Doubts(00:10:11) Brian Kilroy - The Pressure Cooker(00:13:38) Pete Musters - P is for Pilot(00:14:17) Dan McWilliams - Owning Mistakes(00:14:45) Jeff Foreman - Scale Change(00:15:09) Dan McWilliams - Fighter Dreams Derailed(00:17:57) Dan Conway - 98% Awesome(00:18:55) Act 3: The Edge - Skye Simpson - The Imposter(00:20:10) Bryan Morrison - The Culture Shock(00:20:54) Ian Wookey - Realizing You're Terrible at Flying Helicopters(00:22:26) Rock Veilleux - Flying the Hawk(00:24:40) Brian Kilroy - The Edge of Capability(00:28:52) Skye Simpson - A Stick of Gum(00:30:39) Rock Veilleux - The Ejection(00:39:16) Act 4: The Toll - Dan McWilliams - Twisted Bits of Aluminum(00:40:17) Duncan MacIsaac - How Many Lives Did They Save?(00:41:48) Dan McWilliams - BAM! It Was Over.(00:43:25) Bob Wade - The Weight of Instructing(00:44:16) Rock Veilleux - The Road to Recovery(00:48:34) CFMAP Information(00:48:59) Act 5: Why We Fly - Blake McNaughton - Brothers and Sisters(00:49:56) Rich MacDougall - Most Memorable Flight(00:50:52) Jeff Foreman - This Is Your Captain Speaking(00:51:28) Rich MacDougall - 25 Years Ago, That Was Me(00:52:03) Blake McNaughton - A Gig Like Nothing Else