A B737-700 flight crew was cleared direct to what sounded like 'toad;' and since todde was on their ...

Attributes
ACN	833919
Time
Date	200904
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	TODDE
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 233 Flight Crew Type 233
Person 2
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 269 Flight Crew Type 269
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

Our clearance from ama-ZZZ was via tbe (tobe); direct todde; then the arrival. On departure ama cleared us to (what sounded like) 'toad' and I read that back. Looking at my legs page; I assumed the point named was todde; selected the fix; and proceeded direct via LNAV. Approximately 120 NM southeast of todde; ATC inquired as to our route of flight. After I told him we were direct todde; he re-cleared us to tbe direct todde. Assuming that tobe cannot be re-named; perhaps have ATC pronounce the fix tow-bee. The fix tobe and todde are close enough to be misunderstood. Perhaps having ATC give the following would also help; 'cleared direct tobe; tango-bravo-echo;' to re-affirm the clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 flight crew was cleared direct to what sounded like 'TOAD;' and since TODDE was on their route they flew direct TODDE. ATC later clarified they were cleared direct TBE (TOBE). Flight crew suggests increased clarity from the Controller might have prevented the error.

Narrative: Our clearance from AMA-ZZZ was via TBE (TOBE); direct TODDE; then the arrival. On departure AMA cleared us to (what sounded like) 'TOAD' and I read that back. Looking at my LEGS page; I assumed the point named was TODDE; selected the fix; and proceeded direct via LNAV. Approximately 120 NM SE of TODDE; ATC inquired as to our route of flight. After I told him we were direct TODDE; he re-cleared us to TBE direct TODDE. Assuming that TOBE cannot be re-named; perhaps have ATC pronounce the fix TOW-BEE. The fix TOBE and TODDE are close enough to be misunderstood. Perhaps having ATC give the following would also help; 'Cleared direct TOBE; TANGO-BRAVO-ECHO;' to re-affirm the clearance.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A B737-700 flight crew was cleared direct to what sounded like 'toad;' and since todde was on their route they flew direct todde. ATC later clarified they were cleared direct tbe (tobe). Flight crew suggests increased clarity from the controller might have prevented the error.