B717 experienced loss of separation at FL290 with ZMA involving similar call signs.

Attributes
ACN	607514
Time
Date	200402
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 30500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717 (Formerly MD-95)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	607514
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	607511
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 10000 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

While on ZMA (127.05) we were advised of air carrier with similar call sign on frequency (we were air carrier xxy). They were ahead of us by several mi. We were both flying north at FL290. We were advised to turn left 15 degrees, climb to FL330 and contact ZMA on 127.47. I think at least 2 radio xmissions were involved, all to air carrier xxy. We responded to all calls as air carrier xxy and always allowed a lengthy pause to ensure we were the correct respondent. At the same time the first officer was checking with ZMA on 127.47, I noticed that we would be climbing through the altitude of passing traffic. ZMA said they were looking for air carrier xy not xxy. As I was adjusting the range on my display and realizing that something was obviously wrong, we got a TA, then an RA. I had already disconnected the autoplt and was leveling off. Frequency 127.47 told us to stop our climb and then returned us to frequency 125.07. We confirmed he wanted us at FL290. Several mins later we were returned once again to frequency 127.47, basically without further comment. We came within 300-500 ft vertically and 1 1/2 - 3 mi horizontally of opposing traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B717 EXPERIENCED LOSS OF SEPARATION AT FL290 WITH ZMA INVOLVING SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: WHILE ON ZMA (127.05) WE WERE ADVISED OF ACR WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN ON FREQ (WE WERE ACR XXY). THEY WERE AHEAD OF US BY SEVERAL MI. WE WERE BOTH FLYING N AT FL290. WE WERE ADVISED TO TURN L 15 DEGS, CLB TO FL330 AND CONTACT ZMA ON 127.47. I THINK AT LEAST 2 RADIO XMISSIONS WERE INVOLVED, ALL TO ACR XXY. WE RESPONDED TO ALL CALLS AS ACR XXY AND ALWAYS ALLOWED A LENGTHY PAUSE TO ENSURE WE WERE THE CORRECT RESPONDENT. AT THE SAME TIME THE FO WAS CHKING WITH ZMA ON 127.47, I NOTICED THAT WE WOULD BE CLBING THROUGH THE ALT OF PASSING TFC. ZMA SAID THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ACR XY NOT XXY. AS I WAS ADJUSTING THE RANGE ON MY DISPLAY AND REALIZING THAT SOMETHING WAS OBVIOUSLY WRONG, WE GOT A TA, THEN AN RA. I HAD ALREADY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND WAS LEVELING OFF. FREQ 127.47 TOLD US TO STOP OUR CLB AND THEN RETURNED US TO FREQ 125.07. WE CONFIRMED HE WANTED US AT FL290. SEVERAL MINS LATER WE WERE RETURNED ONCE AGAIN TO FREQ 127.47, BASICALLY WITHOUT FURTHER COMMENT. WE CAME WITHIN 300-500 FT VERTLY AND 1 1/2 - 3 MI HORIZLY OF OPPOSING TFC.

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.