Editor:

This past March 11 - the second Monday was an appointed meeting of the Ancient Order of Quiet Birdmen.  As you will learn, all members are experienced aviators.  The organization was started by combat pilots of WWI, in 1921.  Presently, there are over 200 hangars across the Nation and some in foreign areas. 

Below is a portion of the Monthly report I sent to Beam HQ, my position is called "Beam Man"- the Beam is our monthly magazine with monthly reports of all Hangars, in other words, I am the "squibe".  Perhaps you will find it interesting if not factual.  Many of us are active pilots, some with thousands of dollars invested in their personal or company aircraft.   Thus:

Toward the end of our meeting after all the business stuff was over a discussion ensued as to the wisdom of "Net Zero” in regards to curtailing greenhouse gases.  Iowa is an agricultural state, we have more swine and cattle than people.  At the WEF in Davos Switzerland, John Kerry said 30% of our pollution (greenhouse gases) comes from agriculture.  Related was the statement that the number of cattle on ranches and feedlots should be reduced or perhaps ended because of methane, the culprit, a product of digestion. Another wise person stated that something should be done about rice production – it seems that when the patties are flooded, the weeds die, decompose and release methane.   Hmm, rice is a staple of the Asian-Pacific region.  Our own Louisiana is also a big producer.  

Then we learn that EVs don’t work well when it’s hot or cold.  One of our members pointed out that there was a discussion that EVs contribute more to pollution than our internal combustion engines due to the rare earths that are mined to make the batteries...along with the problems of recycling when the batteries end their service life.  Note: China is the producer of the rare earths when the batteries are shipped the ships and trucks all burn carbon fuels, as well as the mining equipment. Hmmm.  Perhaps we should slow down and thoughtfully think this deal through.  Just say’n.   Regardless, I was really put back by how questioning our attendees were.  Our people in the “sticks” are really smart.  We are just protecting our turf as experienced pilots.  The aircraft we fly are all carbon-fueled.

 

The last isn’t politics, it's just questioning the wisdom of net zero.  We should remember the lower end of our financially challenged; the wealthy can survive whatever the government dictates.  Let’s go forward carefully.   Stay tuned.

Regards.

John Stiegelmeyer