Narrative:

In cruise flight at 16000' MSL on ZJX frequency 133.85, we received ATC clearance, 'air carrier xx...climb and maintain FL230.' we acknowledged the altitude change number confusion, we asked for verification of last altitude clearance. ATC acknowledged that the clearance that we received was for another aircraft. We immediately stopped our climb and descended back to 16000'. The ATC controller had several previous mix ups with several of our company aircraft with similar flight numbers, ie, air carrier xy, air carrier xz. Multiple requests by similar sounding aircraft call signs for deviations for WX avoidance was a contributing factor.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DUE TO FREQ CONGESTION AND CONFUSION CAUSED BY NUMEROUS ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS IT APPEARS THAT ATC ISSUED AND RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A CLIMB CLRNC FROM THE WRONG ACFT. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE ADVERSE WX RESULTING IN NUMEROUS RADIO TRANSMISSIONS REQUESTING WX DEVIATIONS.

Narrative: IN CRUISE FLT AT 16000' MSL ON ZJX FREQ 133.85, WE RECEIVED ATC CLRNC, 'ACR XX...CLB AND MAINTAIN FL230.' WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE ALT CHANGE NUMBER CONFUSION, WE ASKED FOR VERIFICATION OF LAST ALT CLRNC. ATC ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CLRNC THAT WE RECEIVED WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT. WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED OUR CLB AND DSNDED BACK TO 16000'. THE ATC CTLR HAD SEVERAL PREVIOUS MIX UPS WITH SEVERAL OF OUR COMPANY ACFT WITH SIMILAR FLT NUMBERS, IE, ACR XY, ACR XZ. MULTIPLE REQUESTS BY SIMILAR SOUNDING ACFT CALL SIGNS FOR DEVIATIONS FOR WX AVOIDANCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.