ZID controller when issued climb clearance to wrong aircraft with similar call sign at FL280.

Attributes
ACN	770923
Time
Date	200801
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : iiu.vortac
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 12 controller radar : 20 controller time certified in position1 : 8
ASRS Report	770923
Person 2
Function	controller : handoff position
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 1
ASRS Report	770922
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 15000 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Company
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

I intended to climb air carrier X to FL290. I entered it into his data block. I inadvertently climbed similar call sign air carrier Y to FL290. I noticed immediately air carrier Y climb above his altitude in data block and took immediate action to resolve situation. I called traffic to air carrier X several times before and he reported the B737 (air carrier Y) in sight; prior to loss of separation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID CTLR WHEN ISSUED CLIMB CLRNC TO WRONG ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN AT FL280.

Narrative: I INTENDED TO CLB ACR X TO FL290. I ENTERED IT INTO HIS DATA BLOCK. I INADVERTENTLY CLBED SIMILAR CALL SIGN ACR Y TO FL290. I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY ACR Y CLB ABOVE HIS ALT IN DATA BLOCK AND TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO RESOLVE SITUATION. I CALLED TFC TO ACR X SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND HE RPTED THE B737 (ACR Y) IN SIGHT; PRIOR TO LOSS OF SEPARATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.