 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Status of ATC communication equipment and approach controller's technique ATC communication confuses 2 air carrier aircraft with similar sounding aircraft #.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 178788 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199105 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : dtw |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 14000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : dtw |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 26 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 26 |
| ASRS Report | 178788 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Deviation other |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | other physical facility procedure or policy : unspecified |
Narrative:
Approach was working our flight (adad) and dad. This created confusion on the part of the crew and approach control. During this period to add to the confusion, 2 controllers started using the same frequency and stepping on each other. I understand their warning system for this failed. I suggest if 2 aircraft with similar sounding call signs are on frequency, they should call one 'adad' and the other 'D-a-D,' rather than 'dad.' 2 other suggestions: maybe we should say the word, '10 thousand' and use the numerics for 11000. Also, if on the commercial charts, they included what low altitude chart they were on. This would save a lot of wasted time and confusion in the air when things start to change in a hurry, or anytime for that matter. I've seen too many times when everyone is saying, 'what chart is it on?' 'I don't know.' see if you could find it.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: STATUS OF ATC COM EQUIPMENT AND APCH CTLR'S TECHNIQUE ATC COM CONFUSES 2 ACR ACFT WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING ACFT #.
Narrative: APCH WAS WORKING OUR FLT (ADAD) AND DAD. THIS CREATED CONFUSION ON THE PART OF THE CREW AND APCH CTL. DURING THIS PERIOD TO ADD TO THE CONFUSION, 2 CTLRS STARTED USING THE SAME FREQ AND STEPPING ON EACH OTHER. I UNDERSTAND THEIR WARNING SYS FOR THIS FAILED. I SUGGEST IF 2 ACFT WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS ARE ON FREQ, THEY SHOULD CALL ONE 'ADAD' AND THE OTHER 'D-A-D,' RATHER THAN 'DAD.' 2 OTHER SUGGESTIONS: MAYBE WE SHOULD SAY THE WORD, '10 THOUSAND' AND USE THE NUMERICS FOR 11000. ALSO, IF ON THE COMMERCIAL CHARTS, THEY INCLUDED WHAT LOW ALT CHART THEY WERE ON. THIS WOULD SAVE A LOT OF WASTED TIME AND CONFUSION IN THE AIR WHEN THINGS START TO CHANGE IN A HURRY, OR ANYTIME FOR THAT MATTER. I'VE SEEN TOO MANY TIMES WHEN EVERYONE IS SAYING, 'WHAT CHART IS IT ON?' 'I DON'T KNOW.' SEE IF YOU COULD FIND IT.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.