3 company flts with similar flight numbers. Never received handoff to next center.

Attributes
ACN	108038
Time
Date	198904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ftz
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 39000 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	108038
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

ZME did not give frequency change to contact ZKC. We continued to monitor ZME until advised by company communication via ACARS to contact ZKC. Did so successfully. No problems. Suggest different sounding call signs by companies so frequency changes and ATC communication don't get confused. There were 3 other company flts, ours was 'def'. There also was a 'dgf' and another 'D?F'. I suspect that someone else rogered our frequency change. Center is just too blase about communication. Also suggest that we use individual numbers instead of group numbers. They just sound too much alike otherwise.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 3 COMPANY FLTS WITH SIMILAR FLT NUMBERS. NEVER RECEIVED HANDOFF TO NEXT CENTER.

Narrative: ZME DID NOT GIVE FREQ CHANGE TO CONTACT ZKC. WE CONTINUED TO MONITOR ZME UNTIL ADVISED BY COMPANY COM VIA ACARS TO CONTACT ZKC. DID SO SUCCESSFULLY. NO PROBLEMS. SUGGEST DIFFERENT SOUNDING CALL SIGNS BY COMPANIES SO FREQ CHANGES AND ATC COM DON'T GET CONFUSED. THERE WERE 3 OTHER COMPANY FLTS, OURS WAS 'DEF'. THERE ALSO WAS A 'DGF' AND ANOTHER 'D?F'. I SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE ELSE ROGERED OUR FREQ CHANGE. CENTER IS JUST TOO BLASE ABOUT COM. ALSO SUGGEST THAT WE USE INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS INSTEAD OF GROUP NUMBERS. THEY JUST SOUND TOO MUCH ALIKE OTHERWISE.

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.