Controller non use of similar call sign procedure. ATC communication use of numbers only.

Attributes
ACN	191895
Time
Date	199110
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bsy
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	191895
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Mia center refusing to use call sign of aircraft, even though there were 2 airliners on frequency with identical numbers. Air carrier X challenged center on this, and the supervisor removed controller from duty, then same controller came back, still adamantly refusing to use full call sign, only numbers. This on 119.82. Changed to 132.15, ZMA, and controllers there also refused to use call signs, only numbers, even though 2 airliners with same numbers were on frequency. I have written this problem up before as I think it is important. I have known of fatal accidents caused by pilots not receiving proper call signs. ATC is usually the one dropping prefixes, not the pilots, but we are the ones accused of not using proper radio technique.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR NON USE OF SIMILAR CALL SIGN PROC. ATC COM USE OF NUMBERS ONLY.

Narrative: MIA CENTER REFUSING TO USE CALL SIGN OF ACFT, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE 2 AIRLINERS ON FREQ WITH IDENTICAL NUMBERS. ACR X CHALLENGED CENTER ON THIS, AND THE SUPVR REMOVED CTLR FROM DUTY, THEN SAME CTLR CAME BACK, STILL ADAMANTLY REFUSING TO USE FULL CALL SIGN, ONLY NUMBERS. THIS ON 119.82. CHANGED TO 132.15, ZMA, AND CTLRS THERE ALSO REFUSED TO USE CALL SIGNS, ONLY NUMBERS, EVEN THOUGH 2 AIRLINERS WITH SAME NUMBERS WERE ON FREQ. I HAVE WRITTEN THIS PROBLEM UP BEFORE AS I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. I HAVE KNOWN OF FATAL ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY PLTS NOT RECEIVING PROPER CALL SIGNS. ATC IS USUALLY THE ONE DROPPING PREFIXES, NOT THE PLTS, BUT WE ARE THE ONES ACCUSED OF NOT USING PROPER RADIO TECHNIQUE.

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.