Narrative:

I have been noticing this problem for some time now, and when I started a 4 day trip, I tried to document times and frequencys that this problem has been happening on. What the problem is, is that the controllers are calling us xax, for example, 'A123.' the proper call sign is 'ab,' for example 'AB123.' I have informed some controllers that this is the improper call sign for us. This information has been received with much reluctance and opposition. In fact one controller got very angry with me and absolutely refused to call us 'ab.' the problems I see with this is that, 1ST using 'A123' instead of 'AB123' is not legally our call sign, so if we accept a clearance from a controller that will not call us 'ab,' we have excepted an illegal clearance. 2ND, point mugu, which is a military base west of vnt, uses the call sign 'a' which is on UHF, but we hear the controller on VHF, which could cause some confusion for 'ab.' 3RD, there is a company in ZZZ which uses the call sign 'AC' and has in the past done flight training in the la area. 4TH, I miss radio calls sometimes because I am listening for 'ab' not 'a.' as I started off, I tried to document this problem, but it is very widespread. It constantly happens from san to mry, and I hear the call sign 'A123' on ground frequencys to socal approach and even ZLA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF34 PLT CHALLENGES ATC'S FREQUENT, BUT INCORRECT, USE OF COMPANY'S CONTRACTED CALL SIGN, ALLEGING THE COMPANY CALL SIGN IS ILLEGAL.

Narrative: I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THIS PROB FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND WHEN I STARTED A 4 DAY TRIP, I TRIED TO DOCUMENT TIMES AND FREQS THAT THIS PROB HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON. WHAT THE PROB IS, IS THAT THE CTLRS ARE CALLING US XAX, FOR EXAMPLE, 'A123.' THE PROPER CALL SIGN IS 'AB,' FOR EXAMPLE 'AB123.' I HAVE INFORMED SOME CTLRS THAT THIS IS THE IMPROPER CALL SIGN FOR US. THIS INFO HAS BEEN RECEIVED WITH MUCH RELUCTANCE AND OPPOSITION. IN FACT ONE CTLR GOT VERY ANGRY WITH ME AND ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO CALL US 'AB.' THE PROBS I SEE WITH THIS IS THAT, 1ST USING 'A123' INSTEAD OF 'AB123' IS NOT LEGALLY OUR CALL SIGN, SO IF WE ACCEPT A CLRNC FROM A CTLR THAT WILL NOT CALL US 'AB,' WE HAVE EXCEPTED AN ILLEGAL CLRNC. 2ND, POINT MUGU, WHICH IS A MIL BASE W OF VNT, USES THE CALL SIGN 'A' WHICH IS ON UHF, BUT WE HEAR THE CTLR ON VHF, WHICH COULD CAUSE SOME CONFUSION FOR 'AB.' 3RD, THERE IS A COMPANY IN ZZZ WHICH USES THE CALL SIGN 'AC' AND HAS IN THE PAST DONE FLT TRAINING IN THE LA AREA. 4TH, I MISS RADIO CALLS SOMETIMES BECAUSE I AM LISTENING FOR 'AB' NOT 'A.' AS I STARTED OFF, I TRIED TO DOCUMENT THIS PROB, BUT IT IS VERY WIDESPREAD. IT CONSTANTLY HAPPENS FROM SAN TO MRY, AND I HEAR THE CALL SIGN 'A123' ON GND FREQS TO SOCAL APCH AND EVEN ZLA.

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.