The Pilot Project Podcast

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 FLIGHTEXPLORE 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=24Z1Q1JBnSkCONTINUE THE FLIGHTEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilots.https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson conclude the story of the MSC Baltic III rescue, one of the most remarkable search and rescue missions in recent Canadian history.After battling through severe winter weather and discovering the vessel hard aground on Newfoundland's west coast, the crew of Rescue 901 faced a critical decision: evacuate the injured sailors as originally planned, or remove all 20 people from the ship before conditions worsened further.Join us as Pete and Greg walk through the rescue itself, including inserting SAR Techs onto the vessel, triaging injured crew members, coordinating multiple hoists in extreme conditions, and managing a rapidly evolving operation where every decision carried consequences. They also discuss the teamwork, preparation, and leadership that made the mission possible, along with the lessons learned from a rescue that captured national attention.This is the story of the rescue, the extraction, and bringing everyone home safely.CONTINUE THE FLIGHTIn Part 1, Pete Wright and Greg Hudson share their paths into the SAR community, the experiences that shaped them, and the lessons that prepared them for one of the most demanding missions of their careers.https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes/sar-the-msc-baltic-iii-part-1-pete-wright-and-greg-hudsonIn Part 2, Pete and Greg take listeners through the mayday call, the launch of Rescue 901, the transit through severe weather, and the moment they discovered the MSC Baltic III had run aground.https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes/sar-the-msc-baltic-iii-part-2-pete-wright-and-greg-hudsonHEAR MORE SAR EPISODEShttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=sarEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilotshttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes

Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson take us inside the opening hours of the MSC Baltic III rescue, one of the most challenging search and rescue missions in recent Canadian history.On the morning of February 15, 2025, the cargo ship MSC Baltic III lost power in a violent winter storm off Newfoundland's west coast. With winds exceeding 120 km/h, massive waves, and reports of multiple injuries aboard, Rescue 901 launched into worsening conditions knowing time was running out.Join us as Pete and Greg walk through the mission from the initial mayday call to the race across Newfoundland, the planning and preparation taking place inside the CH-149 Cormorant, and the moment they discovered the vessel had already run aground. They discuss the challenges of operating in extreme weather, adapting to rapidly changing information, and the decisions that set the stage for the rescue to come.This is the story of the scramble, the transit, and the race against time.CONTINUE THE FLIGHTIn Part 1, Pete Wright and Greg Hudson share their paths into the SAR community, the experiences that shaped them, and the lessons that prepared them for one of the most demanding missions of their careers.https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes/sar-the-msc-baltic-iii-part-1-pete-wright-and-greg-hudsonIn Part 3, Pete and Greg walk through the rescue itself, including the hoisting operation, evacuating all 20 sailors from the grounded vessel, and the lessons learned from the mission.https://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes/sar-the-msc-baltic-iii-part-3-pete-wright-and-greg-hudsonHEAR MORE SAR EPISODEShttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/search?query=sarEXPLORE THE LOGBOOKMore stories from RCAF and mission aviation pilotshttps://podpilotproject.transistor.fm/episodes