Whether it is landing on a remote airstrip or driving the crew to stabilise a patient, Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Pilot Brady Thrift is always there to lend a helping hand.
Growing up in a regional town, the appeal of aviation captivated Brady from an early age.
“I was exposed to aviation by my mother who was frequently travelling for work,” Brady said.
“I can vividly recall watching arriving and departing aircraft knowing full well I wanted a career in aviation.
“After high school, I moved to the Sunshine Coast to commence my commercial pilot license, which led to me finding my first job as a station pilot for a big pastoral company in North Queensland.
“During my time as a station pilot, I was exposed to and involved in many RFDS retrievals, whether it was an injured ringer involved in a mustering incident or a station employee being generally unwell.
“This exposure set me up early in my career to know that the RFDS was where I wanted to be!”
The dynamic nature of his role as a RFDS pilot at the Mount Isa Base sees each day present new challenges and opportunities.
“One day we’re with our primary health care team in a community delivering the weekly health care clinics and the next day we could be landing on a 1,000 m dirt strip,” Brady said.
“It doesn’t get any more exciting than that!”
Knowing his work as a RFDS pilot has positive impacts on the lives of those living in rural and remote communities fills Brady with pride.
“The most rewarding part of the job is knowing that the service you’re apart of can have such an impact on someone’s life,” Brady said.
“For many of the patients we transfer, they’re most likely experiencing the worst day of their lives.
“Being part of the team which helps these individuals get to where they need to be is very fulfilling.”
Drawing from his own journey, Brady's advice to aspiring pilots is to simply savour every moment.
“While it’s not an easy road, and it can feel like the end is never in sight, remember to take your time, enjoy the ride, and embrace the opportunities as they present themselves,” Brady shared.
“One day you’ll look back and wonder where the time has gone!”
Making a difference in people’s lives is all in a day's work for a RFDS pilot. You can find out more here.
