Captain of a B727 complains about too many similar sounding call signs from his company alone. Even though there was no noted errors, he believes that it makes it very difficult for ATC and the flcs to respond to the intended aircraft.

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Attributes
ACN	435086
Time
Date	199904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mia.airport
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : mia.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 95
ASRS Report	435086
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 95
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 968
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On apr/xa/99 at about XA00, there were 4 air carrier X flts with similar call signs. Xx flts xa-xb-xc (my flight) and xd. There were no missed communications or conflicts. There were no altdevs or problems. Just too much time spent listening for the correct call sign. ATC and all aircraft involved did a good job. There should not be that many similar call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A B727 COMPLAINS ABOUT TOO MANY SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS FROM HIS COMPANY ALONE. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO NOTED ERRORS, HE BELIEVES THAT IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR ATC AND THE FLCS TO RESPOND TO THE INTENDED ACFT.

Narrative: ON APR/XA/99 AT ABOUT XA00, THERE WERE 4 ACR X FLTS WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. XX FLTS XA-XB-XC (MY FLT) AND XD. THERE WERE NO MISSED COMS OR CONFLICTS. THERE WERE NO ALTDEVS OR PROBS. JUST TOO MUCH TIME SPENT LISTENING FOR THE CORRECT CALL SIGN. ATC AND ALL ACFT INVOLVED DID A GOOD JOB. THERE SHOULD NOT BE THAT MANY SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

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.