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Approach controller described unexpected descent event involving similar sounding call signs with four digit flight numbers; different numbers; but when called; sounded the same.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 810634 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200811 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : zzz.vortac |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : zzz.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Transport |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : zzz.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Transport |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 7 |
| ASRS Report | 810634 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Company FAA Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
I was working the low altitude sector at ZZZ and two aircraft were handed off to me with similar sounding call signs. Aircraft X; abbc and aircraft Y; abcd; which didn't look similar but when stated out loud do sound alike. I issued a control instruction to descend to 4000 ft and fly heading 110 degrees to aircraft X; abbc that was followed by aircraft Y; abcd. Approach had given me the two aircraft and noticed right away that aircraft Y; abcd; was descending and called to effect coordination. There were no aircraft near aircraft Y; abcd; and no separation was lost.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: APPROACH CONTROLLER DESCRIBED UNEXPECTED DESCENT EVENT INVOLVING SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS WITH FOUR DIGIT FLIGHT NUMBERS; DIFFERENT NUMBERS; BUT WHEN CALLED; SOUNDED THE SAME.
Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE LOW ALTITUDE SECTOR AT ZZZ AND TWO ACFT WERE HANDED OFF TO ME WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS. ACFT X; ABBC AND ACFT Y; ABCD; WHICH DIDN'T LOOK SIMILAR BUT WHEN STATED OUT LOUD DO SOUND ALIKE. I ISSUED A CONTROL INSTRUCTION TO DESCEND TO 4000 FT AND FLY HEADING 110 DEGS TO ACFT X; ABBC THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY ACFT Y; ABCD. APPROACH HAD GIVEN ME THE TWO ACFT AND NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THAT ACFT Y; ABCD; WAS DESCENDING AND CALLED TO EFFECT COORDINATION. THERE WERE NO AIRCRAFT NEAR ACFT Y; ABCD; AND NO SEPARATION WAS LOST.
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.