CE560 crew reports call sign confusion by N90 on departure from teb.

Attributes
ACN	722963
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation V
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : teb.5
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	722963
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	722964
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We switched from tower to ny departure control and were complying with the teb departure procedure when ny departure issued a climb for air carrier X from 1500 ft to 10000 ft. We began the climb as instructed and reaching 2600 ft; the controller told us to descend back down to 2000 ft. He then advised us that air carrier Y was on frequency. After initiating the descent back to 2000 ft; he told us to climb back to 10000 ft. There were no conflicts with any other aircraft and we believe the ny controller was confused with similar call signs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CE560 CREW RPTS CALL SIGN CONFUSION BY N90 ON DEP FROM TEB.

Narrative: WE SWITCHED FROM TOWER TO NY DEP CTL AND WERE COMPLYING WITH THE TEB DEP PROC WHEN NY DEP ISSUED A CLB FOR ACR X FROM 1500 FT TO 10000 FT. WE BEGAN THE CLB AS INSTRUCTED AND REACHING 2600 FT; THE CTLR TOLD US TO DESCEND BACK DOWN TO 2000 FT. HE THEN ADVISED US THAT ACR Y WAS ON FREQ. AFTER INITIATING THE DESCENT BACK TO 2000 FT; HE TOLD US TO CLB BACK TO 10000 FT. THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS WITH ANY OTHER ACFT AND WE BELIEVE THE NY CTLR WAS CONFUSED WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.