A310 climbs from assigned altitude because of similar sounding call signs in ZME airspace.

Attributes
ACN	597849
Time
Date	200310
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 28000 msl bound upper : 28250
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A310
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	597849
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : returned to original clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

At FL280, our flight (abc) was issued a climb to FL310 from ZME with a request to 'expedite up to FL310.' we responded twice, initiated a climb, then heard ZME say 'air carrier Y abc expedite down to FL310.' I immediately told the captain to level off back at FL280, which he did by disconnecting the autoplt. We climbed to FL282.5 then leveled off at FL280. I then told ZME 'there are 2 abc aircraft on frequency and air carrier X is at FL280.' no reply from ZME. There were no TCASII traffic targets or advisories from ZME. I believe ZME should inform any crew if there is a similar/same call sign. Additionally, the controllers need to speak clearly and professionally, neither of which this ZME controller exhibited. Finally, airlines should deconflict similar call signs to prevent ATC controller mistakes that affect air crews.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A310 CLBS FROM ASSIGNED ALT BECAUSE OF SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS IN ZME AIRSPACE.

Narrative: AT FL280, OUR FLT (ABC) WAS ISSUED A CLB TO FL310 FROM ZME WITH A REQUEST TO 'EXPEDITE UP TO FL310.' WE RESPONDED TWICE, INITIATED A CLB, THEN HEARD ZME SAY 'ACR Y ABC EXPEDITE DOWN TO FL310.' I IMMEDIATELY TOLD THE CAPT TO LEVEL OFF BACK AT FL280, WHICH HE DID BY DISCONNECTING THE AUTOPLT. WE CLBED TO FL282.5 THEN LEVELED OFF AT FL280. I THEN TOLD ZME 'THERE ARE 2 ABC ACFT ON FREQ AND ACR X IS AT FL280.' NO REPLY FROM ZME. THERE WERE NO TCASII TFC TARGETS OR ADVISORIES FROM ZME. I BELIEVE ZME SHOULD INFORM ANY CREW IF THERE IS A SIMILAR/SAME CALL SIGN. ADDITIONALLY, THE CTLRS NEED TO SPEAK CLRLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, NEITHER OF WHICH THIS ZME CTLR EXHIBITED. FINALLY, AIRLINES SHOULD DECONFLICT SIMILAR CALL SIGNS TO PREVENT ATC CTLR MISTAKES THAT AFFECT AIR CREWS.

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.