Operational error. Controller transposed call signs between air carrier a and air carrier B.

Attributes
ACN	280464
Time
Date	199408
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : alb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zbw
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 16
ASRS Report	280464
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

As traffic controller working air carrier a and air carrier B at the same time, I transposed the call signs on a descent clearance thereby causing a system error. Suggest call sign numbers be changed, in flight if necessary, to avoid this scenario, which happens frequently.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OPERROR. CTLR TRANSPOSED CALL SIGNS BTWN ACR A AND ACR B.

Narrative: AS TFC CTLR WORKING ACR A AND ACR B AT THE SAME TIME, I TRANSPOSED THE CALL SIGNS ON A DSCNT CLRNC THEREBY CAUSING A SYS ERROR. SUGGEST CALL SIGN NUMBERS BE CHANGED, IN FLT IF NECESSARY, TO AVOID THIS SCENARIO, WHICH HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.

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.