Pilot makes comment to passengers about tar sands.
American Airlines says it is looking into allegations against one of its pilots.
Bradley Everett was shocked with comments the pilot made on his American Airlines flight.
Updated: Thu Aug. 26 2010
ctv calgary
A Calgary couple is outraged after a comment an American Airlines pilot allegedly made over the intercom when they landed in Calgary.
Late last week, Bradley Everett and his wife were flying home from Chicago. As their plane arrived in Calgary, they say the pilot gave the local weather conditions but then said something that shocked many passengers.
"He said, it is 19 degrees Celsius and it's very hazy in Calgary and he said the haze is due to smog from the Alberta tar sands and fires," said Everett.
Everett wants to know how the pilot connected the smoky haze to the tar sands.
"This is misinformation and a lie. It's bad publicity for Alberta with the tar sands and it makes you think what are they doing, was it just the pilot, or did somebody give the pilot some wrong information?" added Everett.
Everett blames an anti-Alberta campaign for the pilot's comments about the tar sands.
In July, a U.S.-based environmental group launched an ad campaign criticizing the province's oil sands and asking tourists to stay away from Alberta. The group is using television ads, billboards and post cards in its Rethink Alberta campaign.
Randy Williams with Tourism Calgary would also like to know where the American Airlines pilot got his information. He says he's going to write a letter to the airline to get some answers.
"Obviously it's not accurate and I think people listen to a pilot as being an informed source and obviously something that's not accurate is very inappropriate," said Williams.
Everett says everyone has the right to their own opinion on tar sands development, but he also believes it's important to track down the source and set the record straight.
"Is it just on that one plane or is it every American Airlines plane flying into Calgary saying the haze is from the tar sands?" questioned Everett.
American Airlines says it is investigating the incident.
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100826/CGY_pilot_commen...
