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Women of the Skies: UC Health Air Care’s First All-Female Flight Crew Reflect on Milestone

On March 22, Diana Deimling, RN, Metro Aviation pilot Venida Hayes, and Jennifer Lakeberg, APN made history as part of the first all-female flight crew in the 35-year-history of UC Health Air Care & Mobile Care.

“We didn’t realize until later that it was all female,” Hayes said. “It felt normal, which was a good thing— everything went smooth that day, as it should be.”

Deimling said it was “exciting” to fly with the first female pilot in her 35 years with UC Health Air Care & Mobile Care. “She’s going to be an excellent pilot with our program because she’s very calm, she’s very skilled and has a lot of confidence.” Deimling said.

Hayes, who grew up loving the sound of helicopters as they flew over her home, has been flying for 12 years and most recently flew tour helicopters in the Las Vegas area. “It feels like I’m flying with a purpose now,” said Hayes.

That sense of purpose and mission is why Deimling has stuck with medical transport for 35 years.

“I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Deimling said. “We get a wide variety of patients, and you’re always learning something. I’m learning something new every day from the physician or advanced practice nurse I work with—they’re amazing.”

Every day is exciting—and every flight presents the opportunity to provide advanced, lifesaving care where it’s needed most. For Lakeberg, it’s an honor to help expand horizons for other young women who might see air medical transport as a calling one day.

“Aviation is still a very male-dominated industry, so to have our first female pilot is pretty cool. All of our pilots are amazing and truly the best at what they do. They all have to meet a strict set of requirements to get the job.”