There was confusion over a flight number at dca. ATC was using one flight number and the crew had a ...

Narrative:

We were operating [flight abcd]. I had obtained my clearance via the ACARS pre departure clearance; which gave us the squawk code and flight number and assigned route. I contacted ground using the correct call sign and ground responded with the incorrect call sign; but I did not think anything of it because it was a quick taxi and we were switched over to tower. We had to run the runway SID change checklist. Tower asked us if we were ready and we responded with that we needed a few minutes to run a checklist. I remember being confused because tower was calling us by the wrong flight number. After running the checklist we contacted tower and told them we were ready. The controller used the wrong flight number again and we attempted to correct him with emphasis on our flight number. I did mention this to the captain and he told the controller very plainly that we were [flight abcd]. Then the controller messed up the call sign again and cleared us for takeoff. Once we were airborne departure control told us that [flight abcd] was not an active flight and all they had on file was a [flight abdd]. ATC instructed us to change our call signs and squawk code. ATC was expecting us to use the flight plan for [abdd]; but we did not have that information because we had [abcd] clearance.due to this confusion we should have corrected the call sign before takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: There was confusion over a flight number at DCA. ATC was using one flight number and the crew had a different; similar flight number; but did not clarify ATC's mistake until after takeoff.

Narrative: We were operating [Flight ABCD]. I had obtained my clearance via the ACARS PDC; which gave us the squawk code and flight number and assigned route. I contacted ground using the correct call sign and ground responded with the incorrect call sign; but I did not think anything of it because it was a quick taxi and we were switched over to tower. We had to run the Runway SID change checklist. Tower asked us if we were ready and we responded with that we needed a few minutes to run a checklist. I remember being confused because tower was calling us by the wrong flight number. After running the checklist we contacted tower and told them we were ready. The controller used the wrong flight number again and we attempted to correct him with emphasis on our flight number. I did mention this to the Captain and he told the controller very plainly that we were [Flight ABCD]. Then the controller messed up the call sign again and cleared us for takeoff. Once we were airborne Departure Control told us that [Flight ABCD] was not an active flight and all they had on file was a [Flight ABDD]. ATC instructed us to change our call signs and squawk code. ATC was expecting us to use the flight plan for [ABDD]; but we did not have that information because we had [ABCD] clearance.Due to this confusion we should have corrected the call sign before takeoff.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1316167
Time
Date	201512
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	DCA.Airport
State Reference	DC
Environment
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi Initial Climb Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance

There was confusion over a flight number at dca. ATC was using one flight number and the crew had a different; similar flight number; but did not clarify ATC's mistake until after takeoff.