Narrative:

Upon contacting approach, we were told to depart acton on the 050 degree radial. Our flight number was cdd and another company flight (same company) DDD was also in the area. I am almost positive ATC called flight cdd (my flight) to descend to 5000' and turn right to heading 130 degree. While the turn seemed strange, I started to comply. Less than a minute later, ATC came on the radio and said 'I want both DDD and cdd at 5000, and cdd your heading is still 050 degree'. We then continued to 5000' and returned to our original heading. ATC then remarked, 'I see the problem, we have 2 flts with almost the same number.' (or something to that effect.) there appeared to be no conflict and the controller did not seem upset. I do believe the controller called our flight number by mistake the first time, but I am not positive (without hearing the tape). The problem: out company has a bad habit of identifying many of our outbnd and returning flts with the same last 2 numbers, ie, ccd and DDD. Both return about the same time (or 2 of the 3 numbers are the same). It can be easy for ATC or the flight crews to give or get the wrong clearance meant for the other aircraft, especially if it is busy. Another problem is the lack of a real intercom. These aircraft are extremely loud, and we have a hot microphone system that adds even more static and noise to the cockpit, but if we turn off the hot microphone, it is almost impossible to communicate with the other crew member. Our company is slowly retiring these aircraft and I know of no plans to fix the hot microphone system. Therefore, if we misheard the clearance, then the only way to prevent this from happening again is to be diligent and if in doubt, ask for confirmation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER HEADING TRACK DEVIATION IN RESPONSE TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: UPON CONTACTING APCH, WE WERE TOLD TO DEPART ACTON ON THE 050 DEG RADIAL. OUR FLT NUMBER WAS CDD AND ANOTHER COMPANY FLT (SAME COMPANY) DDD WAS ALSO IN THE AREA. I AM ALMOST POSITIVE ATC CALLED FLT CDD (MY FLT) TO DSND TO 5000' AND TURN RIGHT TO HDG 130 DEG. WHILE THE TURN SEEMED STRANGE, I STARTED TO COMPLY. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER, ATC CAME ON THE RADIO AND SAID 'I WANT BOTH DDD AND CDD AT 5000, AND CDD YOUR HDG IS STILL 050 DEG'. WE THEN CONTINUED TO 5000' AND RETURNED TO OUR ORIGINAL HDG. ATC THEN REMARKED, 'I SEE THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE 2 FLTS WITH ALMOST THE SAME NUMBER.' (OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.) THERE APPEARED TO BE NO CONFLICT AND THE CTLR DID NOT SEEM UPSET. I DO BELIEVE THE CTLR CALLED OUR FLT NUMBER BY MISTAKE THE FIRST TIME, BUT I AM NOT POSITIVE (WITHOUT HEARING THE TAPE). THE PROBLEM: OUT COMPANY HAS A BAD HABIT OF IDENTIFYING MANY OF OUR OUTBND AND RETURNING FLTS WITH THE SAME LAST 2 NUMBERS, IE, CCD AND DDD. BOTH RETURN ABOUT THE SAME TIME (OR 2 OF THE 3 NUMBERS ARE THE SAME). IT CAN BE EASY FOR ATC OR THE FLT CREWS TO GIVE OR GET THE WRONG CLRNC MEANT FOR THE OTHER ACFT, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS BUSY. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF A REAL INTERCOM. THESE ACFT ARE EXTREMELY LOUD, AND WE HAVE A HOT MICROPHONE SYSTEM THAT ADDS EVEN MORE STATIC AND NOISE TO THE COCKPIT, BUT IF WE TURN OFF THE HOT MICROPHONE, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OTHER CREW MEMBER. OUR COMPANY IS SLOWLY RETIRING THESE ACFT AND I KNOW OF NO PLANS TO FIX THE HOT MICROPHONE SYSTEM. THEREFORE, IF WE MISHEARD THE CLRNC, THEN THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN IS TO BE DILIGENT AND IF IN DOUBT, ASK FOR CONFIRMATION.

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.