B727. ARTCC radar controller was confused about aircraft identify and cleared altitudes.

Attributes
ACN	473771
Time
Date	200005
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	473771
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	473770
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ZME cleared us from FL330 to FL290. Call was acknowledged and descent began. Passing FL305, memphis asked us to confirm level at FL310. I told him (mem) that we were cleared to FL290 and he told us to level at FL310. We climbed back to FL310. Nothing else was said. However, ZME controller seemed very confused. He was mixing up call signs left and right.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727. ARTCC RADAR CTLR WAS CONFUSED ABOUT ACFT IDENT AND CLRED ALTS.

Narrative: ZME CLRED US FROM FL330 TO FL290. CALL WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND DSCNT BEGAN. PASSING FL305, MEMPHIS ASKED US TO CONFIRM LEVEL AT FL310. I TOLD HIM (MEM) THAT WE WERE CLRED TO FL290 AND HE TOLD US TO LEVEL AT FL310. WE CLBED BACK TO FL310. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID. HOWEVER, ZME CTLR SEEMED VERY CONFUSED. HE WAS MIXING UP CALL SIGNS LEFT AND RIGHT.

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.