By Kloe Palmer
It is not often you can successfully merge your hobby with your career but Doctor Dave Baldwin did just that when he started the Bulls Flying Doctor Service 15 years ago.
He flies around the country visiting remote airstrips to give pilots their regular compulsory medical checkups.
One of his monthly stops is Milford Sound where, for remote Fiordland pilots, the unconventional GP appointment sure is convenient.
Dr Baldwin has flown his one-seat Cessna from his home base in the Manawatu in the North Island to Milford Sound in the South.
On his way he has stopped off at Hokitika and Fox Glacier, and on the way back he will stop at Mount Cook and Kaikoura, ticking off 20 checkups.
“It's called living the dream from my point of view,” he says. “I have always wanted to do this practice medicine while getting out in the bush and the mountains.”
Dr Baldwin believes his service is unique in the world.
For half the week he is a regular practicing GP in the Rangitikei and the rest of the time he services rural airstrips around the country.
“It's always got to be two way, I’m not Mother Teresa.
“There's got to something in it for the pilots and there's got to be something in it for me.”
The doctor gets to see his fair share of the beautiful New Zealand countryside.
“What gets me is I’m examining pilots and I can hear the tui, it's just beautiful isn't it?”
The relationship is great for the pilots, who are used to travelling to Invercargill or Queenstown for their checkups.
“It's great,” says pilot Jonathon Larrivee. “It's handy for us to have someone as close as we can to our base of operation. We have done two jobs this morning and then to have a medical done, it saves a whole day in town for us, it's great!”
All pilots must pass their medicals in order to be cleared to fly.
“You get the odd one who makes a scene,” says Dr Baldwin. “But that's the same with every job and I’m tough enough to put up with it.”
Most of the patients enjoy his light-hearted approach to a serious task.
The flying doctor will touch down in Milford next month for his next appointment.
3 News