I am known in other countries as "Belle", "Rene" and "Rena"; however, each name has a story to tell, just like the name "Belle". As I met Helicopter Pilot legend Pete Gillies and his wonderful wife Pat Gillies in Riverside, California, I wore a yellow jumpsuit that would be seen when the sky was completely dark. A little girl saw me and the first thing she said was "Belle". I turned to the little girl. When I spoke to her mother, I saw the sparkle in the little girl's eyes. She explained, "The baggy jumpsuit reminded my daughter of Belle's dress in Beauty and the Beast, and she thought, "You are Belle."

Over the course of my career, I have encountered people who have been capable of extraordinary things, I have encountered people who have been inspirational, and I have encountered people who have achieved things that nobody expected.

One rock didn't pave the way for my beginning in aviation; hundreds did.
Flight schools in Austria were scarce or so expensive that no bank
would give a loan; They said, "We don't support this kind of education because there is no security." The world collapsed for me as a young woman. So I started paragliding to get closer to flying. Also spurred by this, I traveled to Switzerland to work as a fire protection expert and project manager to earn my saving for helicopter pilot training. There is nothing quite like the sound of the engines and the flapping of the blades, especially on a helicopter like the Bell 212. The more I worked with HEMS teams as a volunteer paramedic on medical missions, the more I
considered becoming a helicopter pilot.

Aviation wasn't my only passion - others would say, "You cannot stand still, you must always explore." Biking alone through France, Switzerland, and Scotland gave me the opportunity to meet people from diverse cultures, learn, explore, and gain knowledge.

A wise man once said that taking care of people is the most effective way to help nature. I found that very true and based on this quote and what I have observed, I founded my concept "Leonardo Da Vinci Biodiversity". Visiting poor communities, living among them, in order to gain insight into their struggles, to feel the fear they have, but at the same time to be inspired and hopeful despite their challenges.

Scottish Highland Cattle is one of my favorite images from Europe, but most importantly it reminds me of a compliment that I received from award-winning wildlife photographer Antonio Coelho. Check out: Antonio Coelho

Following my father's deathbed promise, I moved to the United States of America to fulfill my dreams. I earned my private helicopter pilot's license and soon after, my instrument pilot's license. Cancer crossed my path before I could take my test for my commercial license and messed up my plans.
Surviving cancer and getting well in a foreign country was a huge challenge. However, it sounds crazy to say that it was probably the most valuable experience I've ever had. I got medical clearance after suffering from cancer, but thousands of pilots didn't. To encourage pilots whose future is uncertain due to illness, I plan to share stories to encourage them not to give up on their dreams. Two advanced training scholarships were granted to me after I received cancer treatment by Whirly-Girls International Women Helicopter Pilots.