The the new Patch Pilot Program takes a page from the Bazaar Team program of the same name. "Pilot" is used in the sense of a mariner who is guiding a ship, and in this program, Patch Pilots (Ubuntu Developers) will help guide new developers through contributing patches and also ensure that those patches are reviewed in a timely manner. Both Jono Bacon, Ubuntu Community Manager, and Daniel Holbach, Ubuntu Developer Relations, discussed the new program in posts yesterday.

"Any contribution to Ubuntu is a gift and we should treat it as such and review it in a timely and encouraging manner," Bacon says.

Some of the key things Patch Pilots will be doing include making the new developer feel welcomed and that their time and work are valued, help them establish the right contact(s) for the work they are doing, communicate clearly on what needs improved in the patch, confirm that pilots are clear about why and how they fixed a patch, as well as speak up if any part of the review tools or processes needs improvement.

In his post, Holbach provides links to the Patch Pilot Schedule, Stats on How the Program is Doing, Patches and Merge Proposals and More help, review tips and everything else.