In this episode host Pilot Mercedes sits down with Captain Jason McGillis, an 18-year Royal Canadian Air Force maritime helicopter pilot and current CH-148 Cyclone instructor.
Jason takes us from joining the RCAF straight out of high school with ZERO flying experience → flying the legendary Sea King on deployments around the world → transitioning to the modern fly-by-wire Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone → and now teaching the next generation of Canadian naval aviators.
We go deep on:

Joining the Canadian Armed Forces as a pilot with no prior flight time
The intense RCAF pilot training pipeline (Phase 1, 2, 3 explained)
Why he chose rotary/maritime helicopters over fighters or transport
Life married to a Royal Canadian Navy officer and how they kept both careers on the same coast
Flying and deploying on the Sea King (including the famous “coupler” and in-flight refueling)
Being on the very last HMCS Athabaskan (280-class destroyer) sail and the first operational Cyclone detachment at sea
The massive differences between the 1960s Sea King and the glass-cockpit Cyclone
What it’s really like deck-landing in rough seas, bear-trap operations, and dual-helo ops
Becoming a Cyclone instructor and what the RCAF looks for in future maritime pilots
Powerful career & life advice: “Never make the same mistake twice” and “You haven’t failed until you’ve stopped”

Whether you’re an aspiring military pilot, a helicopter geek, a Canadian aviation fan, or just love real behind-the-scenes RCAF stories, this episode is packed with rarely heard insights.

If you enjoyed this episode, smash that LIKE button, SUBSCRIBE for more real aviation careers, and let us know in the comments: Would YOU join the RCAF as a pilot with no experience?

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Captain Jason McIllis
00:58 - Journey into the Canadian Armed Forces
10:14 - Educational Background and Early Flying Experiences
25:46 - Choosing Helicopters: A Personal Decision
35:01 - Early Fleet Experiences and Aircraft Qualifications
49:56 - Operational Insights from the Sea King
01:05:21 - Transitioning to the CH-148 Cyclone
01:15:36 - Instructing Future Pilots
01:35:36 - Advice for Aspiring Pilots

Links:

Day in the Life of the RCAF: Shearwater - Flying the CH-148 Cyclone
https://youtu.be/hf2jLPVQv74?si=e1vQXK54re01wP8n

Free Show Notes:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EM4qQ8AL1YiNRTNw7o44rvoGmFXPU9ju1eeOPY3duU8/edit?usp=sharing

Learn more:
If you want to learn more about aviation or aerospace, reach out to Pilot Mercedes:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sound_skies/
Email: mercedes@skywardpodcast.com

If you’re looking for a new place to host your podcast, I use Buzzsprout. You get a $20.00 bonus if you use my link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2447859

Skyward Patreon Community is up and running! If you’re looking for a group of other amazing aviation and aerospace enthusiasts like you, here’s your spot!
https://patreon.com/Skywardpodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

🎙️ Hosted by Pilot Mercedes

With years of experience as a pilot, Pilot Mercedes brings you Skyward Podcast. Your go-to show for mastering flight training, building confidence, and exploring all the different layers of the aviation and aerospace industries. Learn the strategies that actually work from someone who’s been in the cockpit. Subscribe for bi-weekly aviation and aerospace stories and advice that help you soar to new heights!

Tap this to send Mercedes a message!

What really happens to living cells in the very first seconds of weightlessness?

In this episode of Skyward, host Pilot Mercedes sits down with Dr. Rob Ferl – Distinguished Professor and Director of the new Astraeus Space Institute at the University of Florida – and the very first NASA-funded scientist to personally conduct real-time biological experiments during a trip to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard (flight NS-19).

This is NOT another tourist story. If you’ve ever wondered what the edge of space actually looks and feels like from a scientist-pilot’s seat, this is the closest you’ll get without buying a ticket.

Dr. Rob Ferl is a NASA payload specialist, molecular biologist, 1,500-hour pilot, and one of the pioneers turning commercial suborbital flights into real research platforms.

Free Show Notes:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14ztF1g0q_feodiINbf9AtCP4_HfbQsXIuON3sWKAWSE/edit?usp=sharing

Learn more:
If you want to learn more about aviation or aerospace, reach out to Pilot Mercedes:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sound_skies/
Email: mercedes@skywardpodcast.com

Chapters:

00:00 The Spark of Curiosity
02:22 Influences and Inspirations
05:34 The Journey to Science and Aviation
08:27 The Intersection of Science and Space
11:09 Becoming a NASA-Funded Scientist
14:18 Experiencing Space: The First Flight
17:12 The Science of Adaptation in Space
19:58 The Role of Education and Mentorship
22:53 The Future of Space Exploration
26:00 Lessons in Perseverance
28:48 Advice for Aspiring Scientists and Pilots

If you’re looking for a new place to host your podcast, I use Buzzsprout. You get a $20.00 bonus if you use my link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2447859

Skyward Patreon Community is up and running! If you’re looking for a group of other amazing aviation and aerospace enthusiasts like you, here’s your spot!
https://patreon.com/Skywardpodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

🎙️ Hosted by Pilot Mercedes

With years of experience as a pilot, Pilot Mercedes brings you Skyward Podcast. Your go-to show for mastering flight training, building confidence, and exploring all the different layers of the aviation and aerospace industries. Learn the strategies that actually work from someone who’s been in the cockpit. Subscribe for bi-weekly aviation and aerospace stories and advice that help you soar to new heights!

Tap this to send Mercedes a message!

Struggling with go or no-go decisions in aviation? Join Pilot Mercedes on the Skyward Podcast as she breaks down the critical factors every pilot needs to consider before flying. From regulatory vs. personal minimums to the I'M SAFE checklist, weather challenges, and aircraft capabilities, this episode is packed with practical tools for student pilots, private pilots, and even seasoned aviators preparing for a checkride or routine flight. Learn how to make safe, confident choices and avoid common pitfalls with real-world insights and a personal story of a checkride failure. ✈️

Free Show Notes:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19N0TeEM9FuqIn8JqqzLt7-EW-_Qn9EBI4dhIku51Rhk/edit?usp=sharing

Learn more:
If you want to learn more about aviation or aerospace, reach out to Pilot Mercedes:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sound_skies/
Email: mercedes@skywardpodcast.com

If you’re looking for a new place to host your podcast, I use Buzzsprout. You get a $20.00 bonus if you use my link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2447859

Skyward Patreon Community is up and running! If you’re looking for a group of other amazing aviation and aerospace enthusiasts like you, here’s your spot!
https://patreon.com/Skywardpodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

🎙️ Hosted by Pilot Mercedes

With years of experience as a pilot, Pilot Mercedes brings you Skyward Podcast. Your go-to show for mastering flight training, building confidence, and exploring all the different layers of the aviation and aerospace industries. Learn the strategies that actually work from someone who’s been in the cockpit. Subscribe for bi-weekly aviation and aerospace stories and advice that help you soar to new heights!

Tap this to send Mercedes a message!