Narrative:

Problem: communication misunderstandings. Contributing factors: extreme air congestion/poor radio audio/ATC using 3 digit call signs/ATC communication not distinguishable from other aircraft/ATC not speaking in staccato rhythm. Chain of events: entered air traffic via ATC. While in final the ATC informed me landing on 26R was my responsibility. I responded to ATC and pulled up. I returned for second final on 26L. ATC cleared me second place to land. In my final I began to experience vortex and notified the ATC that I was pulling up due to vortex. In the beginning of my third final I understood the ATC direct me, small aircraft X, to make a 360. I complied and proceeded into the 360. During the 360 degree turn the ATC informed me that direction was intended for aircraft Y. Fourth final I landed on 26L as directed. How it was discovered: ATC requested to speak to me disclosing the above items listed. Corrective recommendation: as a foreign pilot, I strongly suggest that the ATC personnel speak slowly and clearly using staccato rhythm and use full call signs during congested air traffic periods and when aircraft share similar call signs. There are numerous foreign pilots flying both privately and commercially, who concur that american ATC and ATIS communication is extremely difficult to understand.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG RWY APCH AND HDG TRACK DEV EXPERIENCED BY FOREIGN PLT DUE TO CLRNC INTERP.

Narrative: PROBLEM: COM MISUNDERSTANDINGS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: EXTREME AIR CONGESTION/POOR RADIO AUDIO/ATC USING 3 DIGIT CALL SIGNS/ATC COM NOT DISTINGUISHABLE FROM OTHER ACFT/ATC NOT SPEAKING IN STACCATO RHYTHM. CHAIN OF EVENTS: ENTERED AIR TFC VIA ATC. WHILE IN FINAL THE ATC INFORMED ME LNDG ON 26R WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I RESPONDED TO ATC AND PULLED UP. I RETURNED FOR SECOND FINAL ON 26L. ATC CLRED ME SECOND PLACE TO LAND. IN MY FINAL I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE VORTEX AND NOTIFIED THE ATC THAT I WAS PULLING UP DUE TO VORTEX. IN THE BEGINNING OF MY THIRD FINAL I UNDERSTOOD THE ATC DIRECT ME, SMA X, TO MAKE A 360. I COMPLIED AND PROCEEDED INTO THE 360. DURING THE 360 DEG TURN THE ATC INFORMED ME THAT DIRECTION WAS INTENDED FOR ACFT Y. FOURTH FINAL I LANDED ON 26L AS DIRECTED. HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED: ATC REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO ME DISCLOSING THE ABOVE ITEMS LISTED. CORRECTIVE RECOMMENDATION: AS A FOREIGN PLT, I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THE ATC PERSONNEL SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLRLY USING STACCATO RHYTHM AND USE FULL CALL SIGNS DURING CONGESTED AIR TFC PERIODS AND WHEN ACFT SHARE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FOREIGN PLTS FLYING BOTH PRIVATELY AND COMMERCIALLY, WHO CONCUR THAT AMERICAN ATC AND ATIS COM IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.

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.