Welcome to AirCARE1! We are a medical air ambulance company specializing in long-range, air-based medical transport utilizing our fleet of Learjet aircraft as well as our team of Commercial Medical Escorts. Between these two medical transportation options, we are able to transport patients all over the world to reach the specialized medical treatments they need.
Do what is right by our patients at all times as we transport them with exceptional care equal to or better than the best premiere medical facility.
Having worked in the air ambulance industry for several years as a flight nurse, Denise knew there was a better way to provide patient care during an air ambulance transport. Rather than keeping with the status quo of the industry, her vision and passion propelled her to start an air ambulance company of her own, so as to make a difference in the lives of her patients while surpassing industry standards.
Denise co-founded the company with a retired Air Force pilot, and in 2004 AirCARE1 became a reality. Shortly thereafter, the company performed its first flight out of Albuquerque, New Mexico with a leased Learjet 35A. Her dramatically different approach of combining stellar medical care with holistic methods was quickly recognized by physicians, nurses, and case managers as a more compassionate and medically effective way to transport patients over long distances. In less than two years the company opened another base of operations in Phoenix, Arizona to meet the increased requests from her clients.
AirCARE1 achieved many milestones over the next decade, including purchasing a fleet of company-owned aircraft, successfully attaining their own FAA Part 135 operating certificate, and obtaining an air ambulance accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). They are the preferred provider of many travel assist and insurance companies, and their crew training and education programs are second to none. Those milestones provide the foundation for delivering the highest quality medical care for their patients in a safe and comfortable flight environment.
In 2014, Denise bought out her business partner, establishing AirCARE1 as a 100% woman-owned company certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
AirCARE1 has continued to grow through its expansion into Commercial Medical Escorts. This service provides the ability to transport non-critical patients on commercial airliners throughout the world, while continuing to provide the excellent level of medical care, holistic techniques, and compassion for which AirCARE1 has become known.
Throughout the years, AirCARE1 has safely transported thousands of patients via air ambulance and commercial medical escorts to domestic and international locations, and has earned a reputation as one of the most trusted providers in the air ambulance industry worldwide.
Denise Waye, RN, BSN
President & Founder
Denise Waye has over 20 years of experience as a critical care nurse. She received her BSN degree from the University of New Mexico and has worked in a variety of critical care patient settings including ICU, CCU, ED, and as a flight nurse. Denise became a private pilot herself, a perspective that has helped her improve AirCARE1’s service offerings and ultimately, the patient experience. She is also a published author in the health field.
AirCARE1 is certified as a 100% woman-owned company by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Certifications tell our partners, healthcare teams, patients and family members that we are 100% owned, managed, and operated by a Woman – Denise Waye. As a company that supports and advocates for women entrepreneurs, we proudly align ourselves with WBENC who is dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive.
WBENC is a non-profit organization and the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. Through certification with WBENC, women-owned businesses gain access to a vast network of support; increased visibility in corporate and government supply chains, education and development programs to spur growth, and mentorship opportunities with thousands of women entrepreneurs.
To become certified, AirCARE1 underwent a thorough vetting process, including review of business documentation and a site visit. AirCARE1 holds two certificates from The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Certificate and the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certificate.
We are here to help you understand the intricacies of long-range air medical transports. Follow us to see what our transports look like and who our team is behind the process.