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Tower local controller confuses 2 same company aircraft with similar call signs holding for takeoff. The one not holding in position is cleared for takeoff and the one in position and holding informs the controller of the mistake. The control then makes the correction and issues new takeoff instructions to the one holding in position.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 431618 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199903 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : iah.airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | DC-9 30 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : holding ground : position and hold ground : taxi |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : iah.tower |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : holding |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7800 flight time type : 1400 |
| ASRS Report | 431618 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | incursion : runway other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
At iah on mar/xa/99 we were flight air carrier X. We were directed by the ground controller to taxi to these position and monitor tower. Both flts remained at these position for several mins while other flts departed runway 26. Then tower said, 'air carrier X make the left turn, taxi up to and hold short of runway 26,' which we did. Then tower said either' air carrier X or air carrier Y (we are not sure) runway 26 position and hold, be ready for an immediate, traffic 3.5(?) mi final.' we taxied into position on runway 26. Then tower said, 'air carrier Y turn right 020 degrees, runway 26 cleared for takeoff.' we then asked the controller to verify our flight number, again he responded 'air carrier Y.' we told him we were air carrier X holding in post runway 26. He responded, 'ok air carrier X, turn right heading 360 degrees, runway 26, cleared for takeoff,' which we did. Solution: our flight numbers need to be monitored to avoid confusing sits like this. I feel that we and the controller were confused about the 2 different flight numbers. Also with runway 26, we were hearing a lot of 6's. I also believe that the landing flight had a 6 in it also, but could not find flight to identify it.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TWR LCL CTLR CONFUSES 2 SAME COMPANY ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS HOLDING FOR TKOF. THE ONE NOT HOLDING IN POS IS CLRED FOR TKOF AND THE ONE IN POS AND HOLDING INFORMS THE CTLR OF THE MISTAKE. THE CTL THEN MAKES THE CORRECTION AND ISSUES NEW TKOF INSTRUCTIONS TO THE ONE HOLDING IN POS.
Narrative: AT IAH ON MAR/XA/99 WE WERE FLT ACR X. WE WERE DIRECTED BY THE GND CTLR TO TAXI TO THESE POS AND MONITOR TWR. BOTH FLTS REMAINED AT THESE POS FOR SEVERAL MINS WHILE OTHER FLTS DEPARTED RWY 26. THEN TWR SAID, 'ACR X MAKE THE L TURN, TAXI UP TO AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 26,' WHICH WE DID. THEN TWR SAID EITHER' ACR X OR ACR Y (WE ARE NOT SURE) RWY 26 POS AND HOLD, BE READY FOR AN IMMEDIATE, TFC 3.5(?) MI FINAL.' WE TAXIED INTO POS ON RWY 26. THEN TWR SAID, 'ACR Y TURN R 020 DEGS, RWY 26 CLRED FOR TKOF.' WE THEN ASKED THE CTLR TO VERIFY OUR FLT NUMBER, AGAIN HE RESPONDED 'ACR Y.' WE TOLD HIM WE WERE ACR X HOLDING IN POST RWY 26. HE RESPONDED, 'OK ACR X, TURN R HDG 360 DEGS, RWY 26, CLRED FOR TKOF,' WHICH WE DID. SOLUTION: OUR FLT NUMBERS NEED TO BE MONITORED TO AVOID CONFUSING SITS LIKE THIS. I FEEL THAT WE AND THE CTLR WERE CONFUSED ABOUT THE 2 DIFFERENT FLT NUMBERS. ALSO WITH RWY 26, WE WERE HEARING A LOT OF 6'S. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE LNDG FLT HAD A 6 IN IT ALSO, BUT COULD NOT FIND FLT TO IDENT IT.
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.