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Interfacility coordination and similar sounding call signs led to an operational error when the wrong flight crew executed a clearance meant for another flight.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 343091 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199608 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : onl |
| State Reference | NE |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 31000 msl bound upper : 33000 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdv artcc : zmp tower : gus |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 2 |
| ASRS Report | 343091 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | oversight : supervisor |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Miss Distance | horizontal : 18000 vertical : 1300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Operational Error |
Narrative:
Similar sounding call signs (air carrier aab and air carrier abb), both coming on frequency at the same time and in conflict. Descent issued to one, other took the clearance. Also, aircraft coming from different sectors in adjacent center (ZDV). The aircraft were in conflict 40 NM inside my airspace. Because no pointout required traffic in adjacent sectors in ZDV was ignored. Recommendations on other side -- change one of the call signs. Also, have training nationally and specifically at ZDV to watch for traffic beyond your own boundaries. Particularly in places known to being in conflict.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: INTERFAC COORD AND SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS LED TO AN OPERROR WHEN THE WRONG FLC EXECUTED A CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER FLT.
Narrative: SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS (ACR AAB AND ACR ABB), BOTH COMING ON FREQ AT THE SAME TIME AND IN CONFLICT. DSCNT ISSUED TO ONE, OTHER TOOK THE CLRNC. ALSO, ACFT COMING FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS IN ADJACENT CTR (ZDV). THE ACFT WERE IN CONFLICT 40 NM INSIDE MY AIRSPACE. BECAUSE NO POINTOUT REQUIRED TFC IN ADJACENT SECTORS IN ZDV WAS IGNORED. RECOMMENDATIONS ON OTHER SIDE -- CHANGE ONE OF THE CALL SIGNS. ALSO, HAVE TRAINING NATIONALLY AND SPECIFICALLY AT ZDV TO WATCH FOR TFC BEYOND YOUR OWN BOUNDARIES. PARTICULARLY IN PLACES KNOWN TO BEING IN CONFLICT.
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.