ATCT local controller used the wrong call sign to clear an air carrier light transport for takeoff o...

Attributes
ACN	367080
Time
Date	199704
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 275 flight time total : 6500
ASRS Report	367080
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were holding short of runway 16L (monitoring tower frequency) as we watched an aircraft on short final landing. As soon as the aircraft passed us, the tower transmitted 'xadd, position and hold runway 16L.' my first officer (PNF) responded with 'xadd, position and hold runway 16L.' while we waited in position for the aircraft to clear the runway, the tower also crossed another aircraft that had landed on runway 16R. After all the traffic was clear the tower said, 'xazx cleared for takeoff runway 16L, leaving 1000 ft turn left heading 130 degrees.' at which time my first officer transmitted, 'this is xadd in position and hold at runway 16L.' the tower then restated his previous clearance with the xadd call sign. The controller queried us as we departed and stated he thought he was correct. We said we thought we were correct and didn't accept our company's (aircraft) call sign. While in position and hold, we saw our company coming up the taxiway, otherwise we were the only aircraft waiting for departure. At the time of this incident, the tower cabin attendant was reducing the number of controllers (ie, they use 1 controller for multiple position/frequencys). We believe the local controller was working that position as well as ground control, and confused our call signs and geographic position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATCT LCL CTLR USED THE WRONG CALL SIGN TO CLR AN ACR LTT FOR TKOF ON RWY 16L. THE FLC CORRECTED THE TWR CTLR AND WAS CLRED FOR TKOF WITH THE CORRECT CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WE WERE HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 16L (MONITORING TWR FREQ) AS WE WATCHED AN ACFT ON SHORT FINAL LNDG. AS SOON AS THE ACFT PASSED US, THE TWR XMITTED 'XADD, POS AND HOLD RWY 16L.' MY FO (PNF) RESPONDED WITH 'XADD, POS AND HOLD RWY 16L.' WHILE WE WAITED IN POS FOR THE ACFT TO CLR THE RWY, THE TWR ALSO CROSSED ANOTHER ACFT THAT HAD LANDED ON RWY 16R. AFTER ALL THE TFC WAS CLR THE TWR SAID, 'XAZX CLRED FOR TKOF RWY 16L, LEAVING 1000 FT TURN L HDG 130 DEGS.' AT WHICH TIME MY FO XMITTED, 'THIS IS XADD IN POS AND HOLD AT RWY 16L.' THE TWR THEN RESTATED HIS PREVIOUS CLRNC WITH THE XADD CALL SIGN. THE CTLR QUERIED US AS WE DEPARTED AND STATED HE THOUGHT HE WAS CORRECT. WE SAID WE THOUGHT WE WERE CORRECT AND DIDN'T ACCEPT OUR COMPANY'S (ACFT) CALL SIGN. WHILE IN POS AND HOLD, WE SAW OUR COMPANY COMING UP THE TXWY, OTHERWISE WE WERE THE ONLY ACFT WAITING FOR DEP. AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT, THE TWR CAB WAS REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CTLRS (IE, THEY USE 1 CTLR FOR MULTIPLE POS/FREQS). WE BELIEVE THE LCL CTLR WAS WORKING THAT POS AS WELL AS GND CTL, AND CONFUSED OUR CALL SIGNS AND GEOGRAPHIC POS.

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.

ATCT local controller used the wrong call sign to clear an air carrier light transport for takeoff on runway 16L. The flight crew corrected the tower controller and was cleared for takeoff with the correct call sign.