Narrative:

ZNY cleared us from FL200 to descent to cross 10 west of lrp at 11000'. Gave clearance late, VNAV angle of 4.2, but we set descent to accommodate. Immediately after clearance another clearance given to switch to ZNY. This we did and checked in passing 16000 for 11000'. New controller said maintain 15000', which we did. After about 15 seconds, cleared to turn left about 20 degrees for traffic, then further left another 30 degrees. All of a sudden, controller cleared an small transport xxa to maintain 15000', cleared us to descend to 9000' and to proceed heading 160 degrees, then direct to lrp VOR--which by now we were about 6 mi northwest of. This was the first time we had heard the call sign small transport xxaa--our number was small transport xxb. In retrospect, I think the original clearance issued by the original controller to cross 10 west of lrp at 11000' was what the second controller really wanted, and that most if not all of the other instructions were either for or intended to maintain sep that was decreasing due to our level off at 15000'. Was sep compromised? I don't know. How did this occur: I'm not sure, but perhaps the controller was not really ready for the handoff and became confused with the similar sounding call signs when we first came on the frequency. When we noticed the confusion, well, in clouds with light precipitation, light ice and 0 visibility, 'scared' is the word.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CGA SMT GIVEN EXCESSIVE VECTORS AND ALT CHANGES POSSIBLY DUE TO ATC CONFUSION WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: ZNY CLRED US FROM FL200 TO DSCNT TO CROSS 10 W OF LRP AT 11000'. GAVE CLRNC LATE, VNAV ANGLE OF 4.2, BUT WE SET DSCNT TO ACCOMMODATE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLRNC ANOTHER CLRNC GIVEN TO SWITCH TO ZNY. THIS WE DID AND CHKED IN PASSING 16000 FOR 11000'. NEW CTLR SAID MAINTAIN 15000', WHICH WE DID. AFTER ABOUT 15 SECS, CLRED TO TURN LEFT ABOUT 20 DEGS FOR TFC, THEN FURTHER LEFT ANOTHER 30 DEGS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, CTLR CLRED AN SMT XXA TO MAINTAIN 15000', CLRED US TO DSND TO 9000' AND TO PROCEED HDG 160 DEGS, THEN DIRECT TO LRP VOR--WHICH BY NOW WE WERE ABOUT 6 MI NW OF. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD HEARD THE CALL SIGN SMT XXAA--OUR NUMBER WAS SMT XXB. IN RETROSPECT, I THINK THE ORIGINAL CLRNC ISSUED BY THE ORIGINAL CTLR TO CROSS 10 W OF LRP AT 11000' WAS WHAT THE SECOND CTLR REALLY WANTED, AND THAT MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE OTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE EITHER FOR OR INTENDED TO MAINTAIN SEP THAT WAS DECREASING DUE TO OUR LEVEL OFF AT 15000'. WAS SEP COMPROMISED? I DON'T KNOW. HOW DID THIS OCCUR: I'M NOT SURE, BUT PERHAPS THE CTLR WAS NOT REALLY READY FOR THE HDOF AND BECAME CONFUSED WITH THE SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS WHEN WE FIRST CAME ON THE FREQ. WHEN WE NOTICED THE CONFUSION, WELL, IN CLOUDS WITH LIGHT PRECIPITATION, LIGHT ICE AND 0 VISIBILITY, 'SCARED' IS THE WORD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.