Less than standard separation between air carrier X abc and cpr Z. System error.

Attributes
ACN	126405
Time
Date	198910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : djb
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37700 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 3
ASRS Report	126405
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 24000 vertical : 1300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Air carrier X abc at FL370 going direct jhw from south of djb requested FL410. I issued FL410 to air carrier X abc, thinking it was air carrier Y abc. I noticed a problem when air carrier X abc was leaving FL377 and I turned him right and descended him to FL370. I turned cpr Z aircraft right to a 360 degree heading. Similar call signs were a contributing factor. Eliminate similar call signs. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter experience: 2.5 radar, 2.5 non radar. Miss distance: horizontal 4 mi, vertical 300'. C/a was activated. Operational error was filed by FAA. Reporter received remedial training. The reporter stated he had 5 aircraft in the sector, traffic light. 2 air carrier aircraft had same #. He was looking at 1 air carrier when the other air carrier asked for higher altitude. He cleared the air carrier that called, thinking it was the air carrier he was looking at. The aircraft were 40 mi apart. He did not realize the wrong air carrier was climbing until C/a activated. Less than standard separation was with a cpr aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION BETWEEN ACR X ABC AND CPR Z. SYSTEM ERROR.

Narrative: ACR X ABC AT FL370 GOING DIRECT JHW FROM S OF DJB REQUESTED FL410. I ISSUED FL410 TO ACR X ABC, THINKING IT WAS ACR Y ABC. I NOTICED A PROB WHEN ACR X ABC WAS LEAVING FL377 AND I TURNED HIM RIGHT AND DSNDED HIM TO FL370. I TURNED CPR Z ACFT RIGHT TO A 360 DEG HDG. SIMILAR CALL SIGNS WERE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. ELIMINATE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR EXPERIENCE: 2.5 RADAR, 2.5 NON RADAR. MISS DISTANCE: HORIZ 4 MI, VERT 300'. C/A WAS ACTIVATED. OPERROR WAS FILED BY FAA. RPTR RECEIVED REMEDIAL TRNING. THE RPTR STATED HE HAD 5 ACFT IN THE SECTOR, TFC LIGHT. 2 ACR ACFT HAD SAME #. HE WAS LOOKING AT 1 ACR WHEN THE OTHER ACR ASKED FOR HIGHER ALT. HE CLRED THE ACR THAT CALLED, THINKING IT WAS THE ACR HE WAS LOOKING AT. THE ACFT WERE 40 MI APART. HE DID NOT REALIZE THE WRONG ACR WAS CLBING UNTIL C/A ACTIVATED. LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION WAS WITH A CPR ACFT.

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.