Air carrier programs wrong waypoint. Same name, very similar identifier.

Attributes
ACN	205001
Time
Date	199203
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zob
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tower : ewr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3500
ASRS Report	205001
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	204595
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Shortly after level off the controller (cle) cleared us direct bradford-J60-lax. We inserted this information into the CDU and proceeded on course in LNAV and autoplt engaged in the command position. Approximately 5 mins later the controller asked our heading (310 degrees) and requested a left turn to, I believe, 280 degrees. The controller asked if we were heading to bradford, il, which we confirmed. After checking the CDU it listed bfd (bradford, PA) as the active waypoint instead of bdf (bradford, il). We were then reclred direct bdf-J60-lax. From the controller's response, this problem has occurred in the past. Supplemental information from acn 204595: they then asked if we were proceeding to bradford, il, or bradford, PA. We responded bradford, il, was what we wanted. Center gave us a 280 degree heading. We checked the CDU and found bfd instead of bdf.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PROGRAMS WRONG WAYPOINT. SAME NAME, VERY SIMILAR IDENTIFIER.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL OFF THE CTLR (CLE) CLRED US DIRECT BRADFORD-J60-LAX. WE INSERTED THIS INFO INTO THE CDU AND PROCEEDED ON COURSE IN LNAV AND AUTOPLT ENGAGED IN THE COMMAND POS. APPROX 5 MINS LATER THE CTLR ASKED OUR HDG (310 DEGS) AND REQUESTED A L TURN TO, I BELIEVE, 280 DEGS. THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE HDG TO BRADFORD, IL, WHICH WE CONFIRMED. AFTER CHKING THE CDU IT LISTED BFD (BRADFORD, PA) AS THE ACTIVE WAYPOINT INSTEAD OF BDF (BRADFORD, IL). WE WERE THEN RECLRED DIRECT BDF-J60-LAX. FROM THE CTLR'S RESPONSE, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN THE PAST. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 204595: THEY THEN ASKED IF WE WERE PROCEEDING TO BRADFORD, IL, OR BRADFORD, PA. WE RESPONDED BRADFORD, IL, WAS WHAT WE WANTED. CTR GAVE US A 280 DEG HDG. WE CHKED THE CDU AND FOUND BFD INSTEAD OF BDF.

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.