Similar call signs and same air carrier resulted in some confusion on altitude clrncs. ATC had to expedite reporter aircraft in descent to keep separation with other aircraft.

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Attributes
ACN	338670
Time
Date	199606
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
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	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	338670
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cruise at FL230 deviating right (southeast) of course for thunderstorm. Requested descent for cloud overhang and was cleared to FL190 and we turned 40 degrees left to go direct laurenceville as previously cleared. The center sector was very busy with aircraft deviating. Controller was struggling and getting behind. Passing FL200 we hear the controller questioning air carrier abc about his altitude and clearance. We were air carrier ybc. Our ears immediately perked up about the confusion. The TCASII at this time gave us a warning of aircraft ahead approximately 10 NM. The controller again gave us our clearance to FL190 and asked us to expedite. We were already doing this. Leveling at FL190, aircraft passed 1000 ft above us and well left of us. Similar call signs and lack of FAA controller maintaining good control of situation caused the problem. I don't think separation was lost but the situation was less than desirable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR CALL SIGNS AND SAME ACR RESULTED IN SOME CONFUSION ON ALT CLRNCS. ATC HAD TO EXPEDITE RPTR ACFT IN DSCNT TO KEEP SEPARATION WITH OTHER ACFT.

Narrative: CRUISE AT FL230 DEVIATING R (SE) OF COURSE FOR TSTM. REQUESTED DSCNT FOR CLOUD OVERHANG AND WAS CLRED TO FL190 AND WE TURNED 40 DEGS L TO GO DIRECT LAURENCEVILLE AS PREVIOUSLY CLRED. THE CTR SECTOR WAS VERY BUSY WITH ACFT DEVIATING. CTLR WAS STRUGGLING AND GETTING BEHIND. PASSING FL200 WE HEAR THE CTLR QUESTIONING ACR ABC ABOUT HIS ALT AND CLRNC. WE WERE ACR YBC. OUR EARS IMMEDIATELY PERKED UP ABOUT THE CONFUSION. THE TCASII AT THIS TIME GAVE US A WARNING OF ACFT AHEAD APPROX 10 NM. THE CTLR AGAIN GAVE US OUR CLRNC TO FL190 AND ASKED US TO EXPEDITE. WE WERE ALREADY DOING THIS. LEVELING AT FL190, ACFT PASSED 1000 FT ABOVE US AND WELL L OF US. SIMILAR CALL SIGNS AND LACK OF FAA CTLR MAINTAINING GOOD CTL OF SIT CAUSED THE PROB. I DON'T THINK SEPARATION WAS LOST BUT THE SIT WAS LESS THAN DESIRABLE.

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.