Military 02 and xmil 02 with similar sounding call signs on same frequency.

Attributes
ACN	191626
Time
Date	199110
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 19000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Military Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	191626
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Military 02 (mlt) landing pob at 160 with pilots discretion to 110 direct sdz, pob and military 02 (fgt) [same call sign, but different spelling] nkt based on training flight delaying at gsb for air show, estimated rdu at FL190 within same sector at same time. The potential was extreme for either pilot to take clearance intended for the other aircraft. The call sign of military 02 was changed to X military 02 at my request while still within previous sector to help prevent both pilots using same call sign within my sector. Even though spelling of call signs were different, phonetically same. Since this occasionally repeats itself when flying units of different branches of service and/or different units within same branch assign their units certain call signs that may phonetically be the same with different spelling. The armed forces should develop a 'clearing house' to assign approved call signs to flying units that may be used without being phonetically same nor be similar to air carrier call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL 02 AND XMIL 02 WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS ON SAME FREQ.

Narrative: MIL 02 (MLT) LNDG POB AT 160 WITH PLTS DISCRETION TO 110 DIRECT SDZ, POB AND MIL 02 (FGT) [SAME CALL SIGN, BUT DIFFERENT SPELLING] NKT BASED ON TRAINING FLT DELAYING AT GSB FOR AIR SHOW, ESTIMATED RDU AT FL190 WITHIN SAME SECTOR AT SAME TIME. THE POTENTIAL WAS EXTREME FOR EITHER PLT TO TAKE CLRNC INTENDED FOR THE OTHER ACFT. THE CALL SIGN OF MIL 02 WAS CHANGED TO X MIL 02 AT MY REQUEST WHILE STILL WITHIN PREVIOUS SECTOR TO HELP PREVENT BOTH PLTS USING SAME CALL SIGN WITHIN MY SECTOR. EVEN THOUGH SPELLING OF CALL SIGNS WERE DIFFERENT, PHONETICALLY SAME. SINCE THIS OCCASIONALLY REPEATS ITSELF WHEN FLYING UNITS OF DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF SVC AND/OR DIFFERENT UNITS WITHIN SAME BRANCH ASSIGN THEIR UNITS CERTAIN CALL SIGNS THAT MAY PHONETICALLY BE THE SAME WITH DIFFERENT SPELLING. THE ARMED FORCES SHOULD DEVELOP A 'CLRING HOUSE' TO ASSIGN APPROVED CALL SIGNS TO FLYING UNITS THAT MAY BE USED WITHOUT BEING PHONETICALLY SAME NOR BE SIMILAR TO AIR CARRIER CALL SIGNS.

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.