The Pilot Project Podcast

Major Matt Neri joins Bryan Morrison for Part 1 of a two-part interview exploring his career in Search and Rescue. Matt shares his early aviation influences, flight training experiences, and first operational tours on the CH-149 Cormorant. From earning his wings to coordinating SAR missions at JRCC Halifax, this episode offers an inside look at the realities of rescue flying and what it takes to lead the busiest SAR squadron in Canada. 

In Part 2 of this Christmas special, Bryan continues his conversation with Captain Anthony Element-Malouin, a CC-130J Hercules pilot with 436 Transport Squadron, focusing on his operational career and leadership journey. Tony talks about returning to flying after being grounded, a demanding 2024 filled with major exercises, and deployments on Op Reassurance.The episode dives into large-scale training events like Battalion Mass Tactical Week, Storm Flag, and Red Flag, crew culture on deployment, and the process of upgrading to Aircraft Commander. Tony also shares what makes Operation Christmas Drop so meaningful and what it’s like returning to the mission this year from the left seat. 

In Part 1 of this two-part Christmas special, Bryan sits down with Captain Anthony Element-Malouin, a CC-130J Hercules pilot with 436 Transport Squadron, to explore his path from early inspiration to operational flying in the RCAF. The conversation dives into the realities of RCAF pilot training, including Phase 1 in Portage, the challenges of Phase 2 on the CT-156 Harvard II, air sickness, spin course, test anxiety, and the perseverance required to push through setbacks. Tony also reflects on earning his wings, transitioning to the Hercules, deploying shortly after OTU on Op Reassurance, and preparing for Operation Christmas Drop during the Christmas season this year!

In Part 2 of our deep-dive with Capt John Livingston, we step directly into the world of operational Search and Rescue flying on the CH-149 Cormorant. After years of military flight training, John found himself at 442 Squadron in Comox-one of the busiest SAR units in the country-where the missions were real, the weather was unforgiving, and the learning curve was steep.John brings listeners into the cockpit and onto the hoist with stories that highlight the intensity, teamwork, and urgency of SAR operations. He discusses the challenge of flying in the mountains of British Columbia, battling severe winds and turbulence, and the emotional toll of missions where outcomes hang in the balance. From max-range mountain rescues to long-lining injured hikers, from his first aircraft commander upgrade flights to the rescues that shaped him as a pilot, John offers a candid and powerful peek into what it means to fly SAR in Canada.

In Part 1 of this two-episode feature, host Bryan Morrison sits down with Capt John Livingston, a CH-149 Cormorant Search and Rescue pilot whose journey to the RCAF was anything but straightforward. Born in Comox and inspired by a family legacy of military flying, John shares how varsity hockey, studies at UPEI, and the demanding environment of RMC’s mechanical engineering program shaped his path toward pilot training.John walks listeners through Phase 1 and Phase 2 flight training, overcoming intense test anxiety, discovering a passion for formation flying, and learning from instructors who pushed him to become a better aviator. He also reflects on his OJT at 442 Squadron, where exposure to SAR operations cemented his desire to fly the Cormorant.From the challenges of Phase 3 rotary-wing training to earning his wings virtually during the early days of COVID, this episode explores the skills, mindset, and resilience required to earn a place in Canada’s SAR community.