Major Maciej Hatta

Snowbird 1, Team Lead

Major Maciej “Match” Hatta was born in Gdansk, Poland, and grew up in Milton, Ontario. He earned both his Glider and Private Pilot licences as a member of 820 Chris Hadfield Air Cadet squadron and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2001. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) in 2005. After receiving his military pilot’s wings in 2008, Major Hatta continued Fighter Lead-in Training in Cold Lake, Alberta, followed by training on the CF-188 Hornet and an operational tour as a fighter pilot at 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron, where he flew various NORAD missions and 22 combat missions overseas.

Major Hatta was selected to join the Canadian Forces Snowbirds in 2013 and flew as Snowbird 6 (2014-2015), Snowbird 3 (2016), and Snowbird 7 (2017). During his four years on the team, he helped reactivate and modernize the TankCam camera pod, introduced interactive 360 camera technology, and created over 130 short and long form videos to help fans, friends, and families alike experience the thrill of flight and behind the scenes from the Snowbirds perspective. This promotional effort earned the Snowbirds team the 2015 International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Platinum Pinnacle Award in the Military Performer category. For his work, Major Hatta also received a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Commander’s commendation and the 2016 ICAS Platinum Pinnacle Award in the Military Performer category.

In 2018, Major Hatta returned to Cold Lake to instruct future fighter pilots on the CT-155 Hawk as part of 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron for a brief tour. In his spare time, he assisted several air show performers, the RCAF, and air shows big and small with creative video content.

In late 2019, Major Hatta moved to Edwards Air Force Base, California, and completed the gruelling year-long United States Air Force Experimental Test Pilot Course, earning a Master of Science (Flight Test Engineering). After graduation in 2020, he was posted to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment in Ottawa, Ontario, as the Officer in Charge of Fixed Wing Qualified Test Pilots. Major Hatta was qualified on up to three aircraft at a time (C-90A King Air, CF-188 Hornet, CT-114 Tutor) and the lead Qualified Test Pilot for major capital projects that brought significant upgrades to the Hornet and Tutor fleets, earning him a second RCAF Commander’s commendation alongside the first flights of new advanced radar, software, air-to-air missiles, and entire cockpit avionics upgrades.

In 2025, Major Hatta was selected to return to Moose Jaw with the honour of being named the Team Lead for the 2026 season. He brings over 4,000 flying hours to the team across 29 different fixed and rotary wing aircraft types. He credits his achievements to the aviation passion instilled in him as an Air Cadet, and the loving devotion, support, and sacrifices of his family.