Similar sounding VOR names. Ayler and elmira.

Attributes
ACN	108365
Time
Date	198904
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	108365
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

We didn't really have problems on this flight with missed/confused clrncs, but going from new york area to detroit, we are flight planned over elm (elmira) VOR and later on, over the yqo (aylmer) VOR. It is always difficult to distinguish between the names of these two vors over the radio, and I believe a real possibility for confusion exists.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR SOUNDING VOR NAMES. AYLER AND ELMIRA.

Narrative: WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE PROBLEMS ON THIS FLT WITH MISSED/CONFUSED CLRNCS, BUT GOING FROM NEW YORK AREA TO DETROIT, WE ARE FLT PLANNED OVER ELM (ELMIRA) VOR AND LATER ON, OVER THE YQO (AYLMER) VOR. IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE NAMES OF THESE TWO VORS OVER THE RADIO, AND I BELIEVE A REAL POSSIBILITY FOR CONFUSION EXISTS.

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.