Narrative:

Southwest of slc we were cleared to what we interpreted to be scull to hold as published. Attempted to determine the published hold for scull, looked on the slc area chart 10-1 1/91 and us (lo) 7 chart in an attempt to locate scull. It was not on either chart. ATC then advised us it was on the bvl 1 arrival to slc. When then got the location/proper spelling and entered hold as instructed. The following day, we were inbound to boi when boi WX went below mins so we requested clearance to pdx. We were cleared direct dufur intersection. We checked us (hi) 1 pdx area chart but could not find dufur intersection. We finally located it on bonvl 1 arrival to pdx, 200 plus mi ahead. I would suggest controllers should say 'cleared direct scull intersection bvl 073 degree radial/41 DME. Cleared direct dufur intersection pdx 079 degree radial/60 DME.' there would be no doubt as to the location of the intersection if it was stated in those terms. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. We thought we understood the holding intersection and when we spelled it out to the computer it instantly came up with the holding scull but it was not what the controller had in mind. They must articulate more clearly or spell out the holding fix when there are 2 similar sounding fixes within 200 mi. I will have to swallow my pride and ask for instructions from now on.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MISINTERPRETATION OF HOLDING FIX SPELLING CAUSED COMPUTER TO COME UP WITH WRONG HOLDING FIX.

Narrative: SW OF SLC WE WERE CLRED TO WHAT WE INTERPRETED TO BE SCULL TO HOLD AS PUBLISHED. ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE THE PUBLISHED HOLD FOR SCULL, LOOKED ON THE SLC AREA CHART 10-1 1/91 AND US (LO) 7 CHART IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE SCULL. IT WAS NOT ON EITHER CHART. ATC THEN ADVISED US IT WAS ON THE BVL 1 ARR TO SLC. WHEN THEN GOT THE LOCATION/PROPER SPELLING AND ENTERED HOLD AS INSTRUCTED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WE WERE INBOUND TO BOI WHEN BOI WX WENT BELOW MINS SO WE REQUESTED CLRNC TO PDX. WE WERE CLRED DIRECT DUFUR INTXN. WE CHKED US (HI) 1 PDX AREA CHART BUT COULD NOT FIND DUFUR INTXN. WE FINALLY LOCATED IT ON BONVL 1 ARR TO PDX, 200 PLUS MI AHEAD. I WOULD SUGGEST CTLRS SHOULD SAY 'CLRED DIRECT SCULL INTXN BVL 073 DEG RADIAL/41 DME. CLRED DIRECT DUFUR INTXN PDX 079 DEG RADIAL/60 DME.' THERE WOULD BE NO DOUBT AS TO THE LOCATION OF THE INTXN IF IT WAS STATED IN THOSE TERMS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. WE THOUGHT WE UNDERSTOOD THE HOLDING INTXN AND WHEN WE SPELLED IT OUT TO THE COMPUTER IT INSTANTLY CAME UP WITH THE HOLDING SCULL BUT IT WAS NOT WHAT THE CTLR HAD IN MIND. THEY MUST ARTICULATE MORE CLRLY OR SPELL OUT THE HOLDING FIX WHEN THERE ARE 2 SIMILAR SOUNDING FIXES WITHIN 200 MI. I WILL HAVE TO SWALLOW MY PRIDE AND ASK FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM NOW ON.

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.