Narrative:

On arrival to dfw on lit to byp 4, ftw center confused us (call sign XXXX with YYYY). We (XXXX) were cleared direct to covie and to cross abeam karla at 11000 ft and 250 KTS. We clarified the clearance and read it back to center and started new course and descent. At FL200, ftw center asked what we were doing and what altitude we were cleared for. We reported 11000 ft, and he had us level at FL200. I questioned the ATC controller, and he said that the original clearance was supposed to be for YYYY. At that time, YYYY confirmed that the clearance had been specifically given to us (XXXX) and we had responded. Apparently, the controller switched the call signs, thinking he was clearing YYYY when he actually cleared us (XXXX). The ftw controller was very busy. We also had an earlier call sign mixup on ZID with the controller. No safety of airspace occurred from our viewpoint. Ftw center then cleared us XXXX direct to karla and 11000 ft. Suggest that these call signs be separated farther apart to prevent controller and air crew confusion while coming from northeast coast.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CREW RECEIVED, READ BACK, AND RESPONDED TO A DSCNT CLRNC FROM ATC, ONLY TO FIND OUT THE CLRNC WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT.

Narrative: ON ARR TO DFW ON LIT TO BYP 4, FTW CTR CONFUSED US (CALL SIGN XXXX WITH YYYY). WE (XXXX) WERE CLRED DIRECT TO COVIE AND TO CROSS ABEAM KARLA AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS. WE CLARIFIED THE CLRNC AND READ IT BACK TO CTR AND STARTED NEW COURSE AND DSCNT. AT FL200, FTW CTR ASKED WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WHAT ALT WE WERE CLRED FOR. WE RPTED 11000 FT, AND HE HAD US LEVEL AT FL200. I QUESTIONED THE ATC CTLR, AND HE SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR YYYY. AT THAT TIME, YYYY CONFIRMED THAT THE CLRNC HAD BEEN SPECIFICALLY GIVEN TO US (XXXX) AND WE HAD RESPONDED. APPARENTLY, THE CTLR SWITCHED THE CALL SIGNS, THINKING HE WAS CLRING YYYY WHEN HE ACTUALLY CLRED US (XXXX). THE FTW CTLR WAS VERY BUSY. WE ALSO HAD AN EARLIER CALL SIGN MIXUP ON ZID WITH THE CTLR. NO SAFETY OF AIRSPACE OCCURRED FROM OUR VIEWPOINT. FTW CTR THEN CLRED US XXXX DIRECT TO KARLA AND 11000 FT. SUGGEST THAT THESE CALL SIGNS BE SEPARATED FARTHER APART TO PREVENT CTLR AND AIR CREW CONFUSION WHILE COMING FROM NE COAST.

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.