Similar callsign results in changing to ZAU in error.

Attributes
ACN	106066
Time
Date	198903
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau tracon : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	106066
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After takeoff at ord climbed to 5000' on a 180 degree heading in contact with chicago departure. We were air carrier abc heavy. Level at 5000' on the 180 degree heading I heard departure control give us a clearance to maintain 5000' and direct to peotone VOR and contact chicago center. Out heading of 180 degree was almost direct to peotone. In contacting the center, they directed us to go back to departure control. Departure control advised us that the clearance we heard was for air carrier abd and not us. I still believe that they used our call sign.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR CALLSIGN RESULTS IN CHANGING TO ZAU IN ERROR.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF AT ORD CLBED TO 5000' ON A 180 DEG HDG IN CONTACT WITH CHICAGO DEP. WE WERE ACR ABC HVY. LEVEL AT 5000' ON THE 180 DEG HDG I HEARD DEP CTL GIVE US A CLRNC TO MAINTAIN 5000' AND DIRECT TO PEOTONE VOR AND CONTACT CHICAGO CENTER. OUT HDG OF 180 DEG WAS ALMOST DIRECT TO PEOTONE. IN CONTACTING THE CENTER, THEY DIRECTED US TO GO BACK TO DEP CTL. DEP CTL ADVISED US THAT THE CLRNC WE HEARD WAS FOR ACR ABD AND NOT US. I STILL BELIEVE THAT THEY USED OUR CALL SIGN.

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.