The Pilot Project Podcast

In Part 3 of our LIFT series, new RCAF pilot Eli shares his path from RMC to flying the T-346 Master in Italy’s International Flight Training School.He talks about early training on the Grob and Harvard II, a unique posting to CFS Alert, and the challenge of fast-jet training in Sardinia. From dogfighting, radar intercepts, and close air support to the physical and mental demands of becoming a fighter pilot, Eli gives us a rare student’s perspective on preparing for the CF-18 Hornet.If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to earn your wings and fly fighters for Canada, this is the episode for you.

In Part 2 of our fighter pilot series, Major Brian “Humza” Kilroy returns to share his journey from CF-18 Hornet instructor to RCAF Demo Pilot and now Senior National Representative at Italy’s International Flight Training School.We dive into the challenges of leading four-ship formations, training young fighter pilots at 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, and the adrenaline of flying airshow routines in the CF-18 Hornet. Brian also describes his current work instructing Canadian and international pilots on the T-346 Master in the LIFT program, preparing the next generation of fighter pilots for frontline jets.If you’re passionate about aviation, fighter jets, and military training, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look you won’t want to miss.

Ever wondered what it takes to become a Canadian fighter pilot? Today we chat with Major Brian “Humza” Kilroy, a CF-18 Hornet pilot and instructor on the T-346 Master at Italy’s International Flight Training School.Brian takes us through his journey from growing up in Alberta and joining the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, to earning his RCAF pilot wings at Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in Texas. He shares highlights from flying the CF-18 Hornet with 409 and 401 Tactical Fighter Squadrons, training future fighter pilots at 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron, and performing as the RCAF CF-18 Demo Pilot at airshows across North America.We also hear his firsthand experiences flying combat missions on Op Impact against ISIS, NATO deployments on Op Reassurance in Romania, and the thrill (and pressure) of representing Canada abroad.If you love aviation, airshows, or military history, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

When a Twin Otter crashed north of Yellowknife in December 2023, a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130 Hercules crew from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron leapt into action. In this gripping episode of the Pilot Project Podcast, we talk with aircraft commander Jason Shaw and Search and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech) Vincent C. Benoit about the night SAR Techs parachuted into a blizzard with lifesaving gear to reach 10 survivors.Hear how they planned the mission, flew into turbulence and near-zero visibility, coordinated with JRCC Trenton, and stabilized hypothermic passengers until evacuation. This real-world SAR story reveals the training, teamwork, and mental resilience behind Canada’s mission-critical aviation operations.Perfect for fans of Canadian aviation, search and rescue operations, and RCAF pilot stories.

In this first installment of The Rescue, Captain Jason Shaw and Sergeant Vincent C-Benoit of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron take us inside the world of Canadian search and rescue operations. From their early days in the Canadian Army and Air Force - including deployments to Afghanistan and Bosnia - to the rigorous training pipeline for pilots and SAR Techs, Jason and Vince share how they became leaders in one of the most demanding trades in the RCAF.They walk us through the skills, mindset, and teamwork required to fly the CC-130H Hercules into some of the harshest environments in Canada. Along the way, they recount intense training experiences, mountain rescues, operational jumps, and life-or-death missions that prepared them for one of the most dramatic rescues of recent years: the Air Tindi crash in the Northwest Territories.This episode is Part 1 of their story, focusing on careers, training, and earlier rescues that set the stage for the high-stakes mission at the heart of this two-part series.

Counter-Drug and Search and Rescue Aviation in the Caribbean with PAL AerospaceWhat is it like to fly counter-drug interdiction and Search and Rescue missions in the Caribbean? What does it take to qualify for this demanding aviation work, and how do crews prepare to execute missions as part of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South)?In this episode, retired RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Juby, now Chief Pilot with Provincial Airlines / PAL Aerospace in Curaçao, and retired RCAF Master Warrant Officer Pat Lalande, now a tactical coordinator and mission commander with PAL Aerospace, discuss their transition from the Royal Canadian Air Force to international operations in the Caribbean.They provide insight into the training, teamwork, and operational challenges of counter-drug and SAR missions, while highlighting the crucial role PAL Aerospace plays in supporting multinational efforts to disrupt trafficking and save lives.

RCAF to Counter-Drug and Search & Rescue Missions in the CaribbeanWhat is it like to fly long-range patrol missions in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), face close calls in high-stakes operations, and then transition to counter-drug and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in the Caribbean? How do Canadian military pilots prepare for this demanding work, and what challenges do they face operating in one of the busiest regions for international aviation operations?In this episode, retired RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Juby, now Chief Pilot with PAL Aerospace / Provincial Airlines in Curaçao, and retired RCAF Master Warrant Officer Pat Lalande, now a tactical coordinator and mission commander with PAL Aerospace, share their experiences. They discuss RCAF patrol missions, the skills and training needed for counter-narcotics aviation, and the realities of flying SAR operations in the Caribbean.

Pat Lalande, a retired Master Warrant Officer and tactical coordinator with PAL Aerospace, joins Trevor Juby, retired Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Pilot, to share their incredible journeys from the RCAF to counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean. They discuss the challenges of military aviation, including close calls during Search and Rescue operations. Insights on transitioning from the Army to Air Force highlight the importance of varied military training. Their passion for aviation shines through as they navigate the complexities of current missions in a dynamic region.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with:Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training SquadronLieutenant-Colonel Francois Fasquelle, Commanding Officer of 442 Transport and Rescue SquadronMajor Dan Faux, subject matter expert on the CC-295 KingfisherWe dive deeper into the Kingfisher, exploring how simulation and training are shaping new SAR pilots, and how the aircraft has been performing in real-world operations so far. And perhaps most intriguing for our listeners: we take on every rumour and criticism we could find about the Kingfisher — separating fact from fiction and busting the biggest myths.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with:Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training SquadronLieutenant-Colonel Francois Fasquelle, Commanding Officer of 442 Transport and Rescue SquadronMajor Dan Faux, subject matter expert on the CC-295 KingfisherWe begin with Dan’s early days as a pilot and what led him to join the fixed-wing SAR project. From there, we explore why Canada needed a new fixed-wing Search and Rescue aircraft and what that journey looked like — from concept to selection. Finally, we dive deep into the Kingfisher itself: the modifications that set it apart, how it’s performing in operations so far, and the process of training a new generation of SAR crews to fly it.