Narrative:

I believe similar call signs and WX briefings conducted on the radio were contributory to a TCAS RA. This aircraft was believed to be another aircraft on my frequency and after a clearance was issued; the original aircraft reported the RA. All the while; the controller was issuing instructions to aircraft believed to be in my airspace (the offender aircraft X; the aircraft in my sector aircraft Y). The radar controller was involved in giving 'ride reports' and he felt that aircraft X was who he was talking to; though he never addressed the aircraft as aircraft X -- aircraft Y was who he was talking to and it was to this aircraft (who was 200 mi away from our control areas) that a climb clearance was issued. Better pilot WX briefings would alleviate this nonsense.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID RADAR ASSOC DESCRIBED TCAS RA EVENT AT FL400 WHEN SIMILAR A/N'S AND RIDE RPTS DISTRACTED CTLR FROM REALIZING WRONG ACFT WAS RESPONDING.

Narrative: I BELIEVE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS AND WX BRIEFINGS CONDUCTED ON THE RADIO WERE CONTRIBUTORY TO A TCAS RA. THIS ACFT WAS BELIEVED TO BE ANOTHER ACFT ON MY FREQ AND AFTER A CLRNC WAS ISSUED; THE ORIGINAL ACFT RPTED THE RA. ALL THE WHILE; THE CTLR WAS ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS TO ACFT BELIEVED TO BE IN MY AIRSPACE (THE OFFENDER ACFT X; THE ACFT IN MY SECTOR ACFT Y). THE RADAR CTLR WAS INVOLVED IN GIVING 'RIDE RPTS' AND HE FELT THAT ACFT X WAS WHO HE WAS TALKING TO; THOUGH HE NEVER ADDRESSED THE ACFT AS ACFT X -- ACFT Y WAS WHO HE WAS TALKING TO AND IT WAS TO THIS ACFT (WHO WAS 200 MI AWAY FROM OUR CTL AREAS) THAT A CLB CLRNC WAS ISSUED. BETTER PLT WX BRIEFINGS WOULD ALLEVIATE THIS NONSENSE.

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.