The flight is staffed with two highly experienced pilots: a captain and a first officer, just like on a commercial airline flight. They each have the highest FAA pilot certification and recurrent simulator training. We never use one pilot, but other air ambulance services do!

We also have at least two medical crew members. One is an experienced critical care nurse with a background in ICU, CCU and ER. The other is a nationally registered paramedic. Both have additional training in flight physiology.

We bring in other medical specialists as necessary for the medical needs of the patient.

Why is it important? We believe that the patient's care could be compromised in an emergency with staff levels less than these.

The patient can fly with one or two traveling companions at no additional charge. We don't require this, but we do encourage it because your loved ones will be less stressed.

We make the transition as smooth as possible by handling all of the important details. We get the patient to and from the aircraft by ground ambulance, accompanied bedside-to-bedside by the AirCARE1™ medical flight crew. We coordinate all ground transportation and handle all payment details for the various ambulance services.

This makes the transition between medical facilities smooth and comfortable. Bedside-to-bedside service begins when our flight team arrives at the patient's medical facility with the ground ambulance crew. They pick up the patient and remain with them during the entire transport. Our medical team accepts total responsibility for the patient until they safely reach the destination. They use our proprietary LifePort stretcher system to monitor the patient's vital signs during the entire process. The vital signs data is provided to the physician at the destination.

Many other air ambulance companies pass off care to the ground ambulance crew and don't bother to accompany the patient to the destination. This can negatively impact the patient's care.

Yes! Every flight has an experienced critical care nurse and paramedic. Each brings a unique set of skills that supports the patient's care. Both are cross-trained in flight physiology. We also bring in other specialists when needed, such as doctors, respiratory therapists, perfusionists and specialty teams.

Our medical director is a doctor that oversees every flight and ensures each flight proceeds smoothly. They speak fluent Spanish and can communicate with facilities outside of the country. This ensures the best possible care for the patient.

Since all AirCARE1™ aircraft are equipped as Airborne Critical Care Units, we are able to fly patients with a wide variety of medical conditions. Some patients require only minor medical monitoring. Some patients are critically ill and in need of specialty care.

The general criteria for flying a patient is a doctor's recommendation that the patient should not travel by a commercial airline.

Conditions include:

• Trauma patients
• Respiratory patients on ventilators
• Cardiac patients on balloon pumps (IABP)
• Neurological patients with head injuries requiring intra cranial monitoring
• Patients with multiple IV drips
• We fly hospital specialty teams including:
  • NICU
  • Transplant teams
  • OB teams

Patients traveling more than 500 miles should always be flown in jets. Anything over 500 miles increases the time dramatically due to fuel stops and possible crew changes. Many lower-priced air ambulance services will use inferior turboprops, not jets. This gives the patient a much more stressful flight.

It's never possible to predict what medical needs may arise, so we are ready for any possibility. All AirCARE1™ aircraft are certified Airborne Critical Care Units. They are equipped the same as any Intensive Care Unit at premier hospitals to provide advanced life support.

We carry $20 million in aircraft liability insurance and $1 million in medical malpractice insurance. We provide copies of these policies with every flight.

All AirCARE1™ aircraft are registered with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and maintain FAA compliance. This has always been our policy and ensures a higher level of safety.

The most stressful time for the patient during the entire process is getting in and out of the aircraft. Many air ambulance companies load the patient by using a couple of hopefully strong people to maneuver the patient into the aircraft.

AirCARE1™ has solved this stressful problem by using a unique mechanical transfer system which alleviates the stress during this process.

Here is the step-by-step process:

1. The ground ambulance's mattress pad is removed
2. A device is placed on the ground ambulance's stretcher unit to secure this stretcher during the patient transfer
3. The AirCARE1™ stretcher is firmly secured to the ground stretcher
4. The patient is gently transferred onto the proprietary AirCARE1™ 4-inch mattress pad where they remain during the flight
5. The patient is moved to the aircraft door
6. The patient's stretcher is gently and automatically lifted into the jet through a 36-inch wide door via a mechanical loading ramp. The patient is then secured to the LifePort patient care system inside the plane.
7. At the destination airport, the patient is carefully and safely moved from the aircraft via the same mechanical loading ramp and onto ground ambulance stretcher unit.
8. Patient is taken to receiving facility and transferred off of stretcher onto a bed.

The AirCARE1™ mechanical transfer system alleviates the patient's stress and fear of being dropped when moving in and out of the aircraft.

We have an unblemished record of safety. Zero accidents or incidents means you can rest assured that your loved one is in good hands. Don't take a risk with cheaper air ambulance services with less-than-stellar safety records.

Our aircraft are dedicated Airborne Critical Care Units, and are never used for any other charter purposes.

Our flights are safer and provide better patient care because we only provide air ambulance flights, day in and day out. There are many aircraft charter operators who will occasionally fly air ambulance flights to make money on the side. Their aircraft are not dedicated to air ambulance operations, but AirCARE1™ is a dedicated air ambulance provider.

We are able to provide transportation for all medical conditions. An AirCARE1™ flight coordinator will help you determine the level of service you need:

1. Basic Life Support (BLS) - For patients with minor medical needs, including oxygen and intravenous access. This patient is extremely stable, but might still need air ambulance transportation.
2. Advanced Life Support (ALS) - The patient's condition warrants a higher level of care due to continuous monitoring, IV access, and infusions. This patient is usually in a stable condition.
3. Critical Care or Specialty Care - This is for patients requiring continuous care, monitoring, and medication. This includes continuous multiple drug infusions, ventilation, invasive monitoring due to acuity, instability or complex care requirements.

AirCARE1™ handles all of these types of medical air transports.

We're always available to help you determine what kind of medical transportation is needed. Whether that's a ground ambulance, commercial airline escort or a dedicated air ambulance based on the patient's medical condition. Whether you use our service or not, we can help you figure out the best option for your loved one.

A broker is a middle man who does not own aircraft, but arranges air ambulance service for the patient and adds an additional fee to the total cost. Brokers are typically looking only for the lowest cost, so they can add their mark-up. They have no way to ensure the quality of patient care.

The broker is a business person, not a medical provider, who only cares about profit rather than the quality of patient care. They don't have the experience to understand the differences between air ambulance companies, and they don't fully understand the medical needs of each specific patient.

By dealing directly with an air ambulance company, your loved ones will get the best care and value. You will also know who the specific service provider is and deal directly with them. You will know all the aspects of the patient care they offer.

AirCARE1™ pilots receive additional training used only by air ambulance operations. This training specifically addresses medical terminology, flight physiology, and how to support the level of care needed by the patient. This training also facilitates seamless communication with the medical personnel on board.

All AirCARE1™ pilots are hired for their extensive flight experience. We require pilots to have a minimum of 2000 hours of flying time.

AirCARE1™ provides:

• 24-hour dispatch available 7 days a week
• Bedside-to-bedside service
• Arrangement of all ground transportation
• Coordination with the insurance company
• Help in finding a room at the destination facility
• A post flight follow-up
• Advice on air transportation — whether you use our service or not
• International services
• Medical crew members that speak many different languages

Many other providers offer some or many of these services, but only AirCARE1™ offers all of them — all the time. Call 1-877-760-7760 to get started.

AirCARE1™ flies to all cities throughout North America, including Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.

If we don't fly where you need to go, we're happy to help you find a service that will.

AirCARE1™ provides a holistic approach to patient care. We take care of the physical as well as the emotional needs of the patient and family members by providing:

• Therapeutic music
• Therapeutic hand massages with aromatherapy
• In-flight movies
• In-flight reading

Studies show that therapeutic music reduces stress levels in patients and decreases need for sedation. We have found that the patient's stress is reduced when the patient is flown in a pleasant, more-enjoyable environment.

If you need to evacuate a foreign national, AirCARE1™ provides evacuations from outside of the United States.

We have experience in Mexico and other countries. Our staff speaks several foreign languages. We also provide evacuation for immigrants in the United States who need to be transported back to their home countries — especially to Mexico, Central America and South America.

Our medical director has the capability to work directly with medical personnel in Mexico to help ease the transition. They can also fly on international flights to help with the process.

We personally take care of every last detail for your flight, including:

• Coordinating the flight from the sending and receiving facilities
• Catering delicious meals in-flight when needed
• The unique medical needs of your loved one
• We find you dependable ground transportation

Here is what we recommend you do:

1. Call us at 1-877-760-7760 and we'll arrange your flight.
2. Get the most important information together. We'll tell you what you need.
3. We will start making all arrangements and keep you fully informed of every detail.
4. We'll send a report back to the departure facility when the flight is over.

Our flight coordinator is ready 24/7 to answer all of your questions before, during, and after the flight. We will follow up after the flight to make sure your flight met all of your expectations. Feel free to call us any time at 1-877-760-7760 or contact us by email.

Call us 24/7 at 1-877-760-7760 or fill out our Quote Request form. We'll begin preparing a quote for your immediately.

All costs are included in our AirCARE1™ quote:

1. Aircraft cost
2. Medical crew
3. Ground transportation on both ends
4. Miscellaneous fees — including landing fees, foreign fees, etc.

We guarantee the price quoted will be the exact price you pay after the flight is concluded. You should always demand the same from any air ambulance company.

Since each flight is specific to the individual patient, a flight coordinator will go over the cost of the air ambulance flight with you. However, we offer the best value because of the many reasons described on this page.

If you are able to wait, there are opportunities that a flight can be done in conjunction with another medevac flight. This is called a "backhaul" and can save you a lot of money. Contact our flight coordinators to find if there are any opportunities available.

You pay for the flight in advance, unless your insurance company (or other 3rd-party provider) has made arrangements to pay afterwards.

Insurance policies often can pay for some or all of the air ambulance service. Speak with your insurance company for details. If insurance does not cover the flight, we accept all major credit cards, certified cashier checks or wire transfers.

If certain criteria are met, insurance will cover the cost of the flight. Contact us to find out if your particular insurance will cover some or all of the flight cost. We then work directly with your insurance company. Some air ambulance providers will tell you the insurance details will be resolved "later," but then send you the bill. Then you will end up with the hassle of having to deal with the insurance company yourself.

Yes, we are happy to work with the insurance company to help ease the stress of coordinating your flight details. We understand how stressful the situation can be for everyone involved, so want to alleviate as much stress as possible.

The cost of our air ambulance service varies based on how far you need to fly. We guarantee that the price we quote you will be the exact price you'll pay. We'll give you all the information you need up front, so there's never any surprises.

Yes, using a broker significantly increases the costs of a flight without any additional benefit. If you aren't sure if you are talking to a broker, ask them if they own the aircraft you'll be flying on, where the aircraft is based and what the tail number is. We can help you identify the broker and determine ownership of the aircraft.

Brokers never disclose their role, unless you ask them specific questions. Some air ambulance companies will say they have an aircraft, but if they don't give you the tail number of the plane you will be flying on, they might be serving as a broker as well.