 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
An air carrier pilot commented that identical letters and sequential numbers; such as KK45I and KK45K; leads to track errors because they are easily misunderstood.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 851424 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200909 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ORD.Airport |
| State Reference | IL |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | FMS/FMC |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types |
Narrative:
We had a communication/clearance problem during cruise with the ARTCC. There are several enroute intersections south of ord with similar names. In particular; KK45K; KK45I; KK54I; among possibly others. The nomenclature used here leads to easily juxtaposed clearances; readbacks; and/or data entry errors into navigation systems. While enroute we were given a clearance to one of these points; the first officer and myself both believed we were cleared to KK54I; when it appears the controller intended KK45I. We're not sure if the controller made the error; or we made the error on our readback. We flew for a period of time towards KK54I until the next controller queried us about it. Having intersections named this way so close together is a problem.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: An air carrier pilot commented that identical letters and sequential numbers; such as KK45I and KK45K; leads to track errors because they are easily misunderstood.
Narrative: We had a communication/clearance problem during cruise with the ARTCC. There are several enroute intersections south of ORD with similar names. In particular; KK45K; KK45I; KK54I; among possibly others. The nomenclature used here leads to easily juxtaposed clearances; readbacks; and/or data entry errors into navigation systems. While enroute we were given a clearance to one of these points; the First Officer and myself both believed we were cleared to KK54I; when it appears the Controller intended KK45I. We're not sure if the Controller made the error; or we made the error on our readback. We flew for a period of time towards KK54I until the next Controller queried us about it. Having intersections named this way so close together is a problem.
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.