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A controller was confused by the similar call signs for 2 different flts from the same airline. He gave an MD80 crew a climb clearance that was intended for the other flight.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 429654 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199902 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : tyi.vortac |
| State Reference | NC |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 29000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : j79.airway |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zdc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | controller : local |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 400 |
| ASRS Report | 429654 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
Both crew members heard and verified clearance from FL280 to FL310. Acknowledged climb with ATC and asked about the ride at FL310. Commenced climb. Through FL290 ATC said assigned altitude was FL280. Stopped climb, reviewed events with ATC, and received clearance to FL310. Before frequency change, we reviewed what happened with ATC. Apparently, there was a company aircraft with similar call sign on the frequency and the controller thought he was giving the climb clearance to other aircraft, but used our call sign. Use of similar call signs in the same airspace is an ongoing problem which airlines, ATC, and FAA need to resolve.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A CTLR WAS CONFUSED BY THE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS FOR 2 DIFFERENT FLTS FROM THE SAME AIRLINE. HE GAVE AN MD80 CREW A CLB CLRNC THAT WAS INTENDED FOR THE OTHER FLT.
Narrative: BOTH CREW MEMBERS HEARD AND VERIFIED CLRNC FROM FL280 TO FL310. ACKNOWLEDGED CLB WITH ATC AND ASKED ABOUT THE RIDE AT FL310. COMMENCED CLB. THROUGH FL290 ATC SAID ASSIGNED ALT WAS FL280. STOPPED CLB, REVIEWED EVENTS WITH ATC, AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO FL310. BEFORE FREQ CHANGE, WE REVIEWED WHAT HAPPENED WITH ATC. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A COMPANY ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN ON THE FREQ AND THE CTLR THOUGHT HE WAS GIVING THE CLB CLRNC TO OTHER ACFT, BUT USED OUR CALL SIGN. USE OF SIMILAR CALL SIGNS IN THE SAME AIRSPACE IS AN ONGOING PROB WHICH AIRLINES, ATC, AND FAA NEED TO RESOLVE.
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.