Narrative:

Vector to downwind. Given heading 095 degrees, 7000 ft. We read back assigned altitude and heading, and began descent and turn. Next given heading 350 degrees and 5000 ft. We read back assignment and continued descent. Instructions were about 30 seconds apart. North turn at our position was highly unusual, but did not call to verify due communication traffic. We were heading 350 degrees descending through 9000 ft when supervisor called, asked for tight turn to 095 degrees and level at 8000 ft. We complied. We asked for an explanation of ATC's intentions. Were told we may have taken another aircraft's vector in error. Copilot and I were certain call sign accompanying assignment was correct. Remainder of approach/landing normal. I called atl TRACON to speak with the supervisor after arrival. Another controller answered, said supervisor was busy reviewing tape -- training was in progress during our arrival, and no further action would be taken. We should have double checked our assigned altitude/heading despite the traffic, although we thought the controller may be sending us to the north runways and did not have time to let us know.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 IS CONFUSED WITH ATC'S IMMEDIATE HDG REVISION AT ATL.

Narrative: VECTOR TO DOWNWIND. GIVEN HDG 095 DEGS, 7000 FT. WE READ BACK ASSIGNED ALT AND HDG, AND BEGAN DSCNT AND TURN. NEXT GIVEN HDG 350 DEGS AND 5000 FT. WE READ BACK ASSIGNMENT AND CONTINUED DSCNT. INSTRUCTIONS WERE ABOUT 30 SECONDS APART. N TURN AT OUR POS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL, BUT DID NOT CALL TO VERIFY DUE COM TFC. WE WERE HDG 350 DEGS DSNDING THROUGH 9000 FT WHEN SUPVR CALLED, ASKED FOR TIGHT TURN TO 095 DEGS AND LEVEL AT 8000 FT. WE COMPLIED. WE ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION OF ATC'S INTENTIONS. WERE TOLD WE MAY HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER ACFT'S VECTOR IN ERROR. COPLT AND I WERE CERTAIN CALL SIGN ACCOMPANYING ASSIGNMENT WAS CORRECT. REMAINDER OF APCH/LNDG NORMAL. I CALLED ATL TRACON TO SPEAK WITH THE SUPVR AFTER ARR. ANOTHER CTLR ANSWERED, SAID SUPVR WAS BUSY REVIEWING TAPE -- TRAINING WAS IN PROGRESS DURING OUR ARR, AND NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. WE SHOULD HAVE DOUBLE CHKED OUR ASSIGNED ALT/HDG DESPITE THE TFC, ALTHOUGH WE THOUGHT THE CTLR MAY BE SENDING US TO THE N RWYS AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO LET US KNOW.

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.