When I, Steven T. Foster "Aviator," think of aviation, I think of freedom, joy, and life. My entire life has been dedicated to aviation in both airplanes and helicopters. It is sometimes hard to imagine doing anything else, and sometimes I laugh because I get paid to do something that I absolutely love and would do even if there were no money in it. Fellow aviators will understand that passion.

I have wanted to be an aviator all of my life. Getting to be one was not an easy task because I did not come from a moneyed background. My major problem was how to get enough money to date girls, have a car, and get flying lessons. I earned the money to get my first lessons at the age of 16 by sweeping floors and washing aircraft at the North Las Vegas Terminal. Once I started, I could never get enough of it. By the end of my 16th birthday, I had obtained my first rating, which was my Private Pilots License for fixed-wing aircraft. When I graduated from high school, I got a partial football scholarship to the University of Washington. I had to work to earn money for food, housing and books; thus, I went to work for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle. One of the most important benefits from Boeing was that they would pay for flying lessons while I was working there. I took all the lessons I could work into my busy schedule at Boeing Field. I worked on getting my hours up but didn't actually get any additional ratings while there.

Due to breaking my legs and ankles several times, I had to give up football and consequently my scholarship at University of Washington. My flying ambitions had to be put "on hold" for a while because Uncle Sam sent a draft notice. The Vietnam War was escalating at the time. Rather than go into the Army, I enlisted in the Air Force so I could be in the Warrant Officer program and continue my interest in flying. While I was in boot camp, the Air Force cancelled the Warrant Office Program. My dreams were shattered, but I had no choice in the matter. I became an airman and was sent to Nellis AFB in my hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. Although disappointed about going back home because I wanted "to see the world," I turned that into an opportunity to work on my flying career. I became a fixed wing pilot for hire out of North Las Vegas Airport in my off-duty time. I used to fly guys who wanted to go to one of the brothels outside of the city. I picked up many hours of flying time and flew to the Chicken Ranch, Cottontail Ranch, and the Mustang Ranch. I made extra money and enjoyed the flights.

After my four-year stint with the Air Force, I became a police officer in Las Vegas. I continued my off-duty flying by taking flights for sightseeing, hunting and also the ranches "to build flight time." I also used the GI Bill for additional flight lessons and getting the rest of my licenses after the initial Private Pilots License. I actually started using the GI Bill for flight lessons before getting out of the service. The GI Bill paid 90% of the cost and I paid the other 10%. My part-time jobs while in the Air Force allowed me to get the money to fly. After getting started, I went right on through the process of getting most of my ratings. I was able to get my fixed wing ratings, but I also wanted a helicopter rating. Because I didn't have enough money left in the GI Bill for that, I applied to the Veterans Administration to see if they would help in my pursuit of the helicopter rating. The VA decided to assist and allowed me to finish my helicopter rating. At the time, I really only wanted to finish the helicopter rating because I thought it would be good to have it on my resume. I had no idea that it would be my profession for most of my career.

I spent 13 years as a helicopter pilot for the Las Vegas Police Department, 12 years as a Chief Pilot for a major contractor in nuclear air security for the Nevada Test Site, and moved into the Air Ambulance business in 1994. I began with CALSTAR (California Shock Trauma Air Rescue) as a pilot and was quickly promoted to Lead Pilot, and then later to the Program Manager for the Gilroy base. Although all of my experience as a helicopter pilot has been meaningful, my work at CALSTAR has been especially satisfying. I know that when I was able to fly patients out of major traumatic situations and get them to hospitals in time, their lives could be saved. God has truly blessed me with excellent abilities and skills, and I have been able to use those skills to save the lives of others. I feel that my experience at CALSTAR has given me a chance to "give back" to others for the opportunities that I have been given in my life. I am in management now, but still fly the line. Paper work and employee relations can never replace the thrill of touching the throttle!

I feel proud of the licenses and hours that I have earned in aviation. They are as follows:

ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) -- fixed wing & helicopter

CFII (Certified Flight Instrument Instructor) -- fixed wing & helicopter

CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) -- airplane multi-engine

Airplane multi-engine land

Airplane single-engine land & sea

As of May 2001 I had approximately 4,000 hours in fixed wing and 10,000 hours in helicopters.

I have flown various helicopters but most of my time is in MBB B-105s, lots of Bell types, and most of the Hughes types.

I have flown most of the Piper and Cessna, single- and multi-engine type aircraft built.

I had the absolute pleasure and the fulfillment of a lifetime dream to own a Cessna T210. It brought many years of joy until I moved to the Silicon Valley of California. The housing prices were astronomical. Unfortunately, the choice was the ability to buy a house or keep the plane. My wife and dogs preferred having a house.

I will continue to fly as long as possible. Flying has been my life and has been my passion. I am proud to support the Smithsonian Institute Wall of Honor to honor all aviators. Aviators are a rare breed who push the limits and enjoy the exhilaration that being above it all can bring.