Similar sounding flight numbers causes confusion. Flight allegedly took clearance meant for another ...

Attributes
ACN	137057
Time
Date	199002
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 225 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	137057
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	137432
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Our flight number was abc, and there were numerous other aircraft in the air on the same frequency, including flight hbc by the same carrier. We were level at 11000' MSL and the controller stated 'airline abc descend to and maintain 8000'.' in response we said, 'descend to and maintain 8000' abc airline' followed by the controller saying 'airline abc roger.' approximately 3 mins later the controller stated, 'airline abc, say altitude', and we stated 'level 8000' airline abc.' the controller stated 'airline abc maintain 8000', that was for your company.' we then received unusual radar vectors for dtw airport. It was obvious that we were given a bad altitude clearance. I believe that this confusion could be removed if the major airlines would set up a schedule in a manner in which flight numbers that sound the same were not in the same place at the same time, ie, airlines with numbers such as 385, 885, 585, 285, 325. In addition should we be required to say 'airlines three-eight-five' and last but not least, I feel that this nation's air traffic controllers are understaffed, overworked and operating obsolete equipment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR SOUNDING FLT NUMBERS CAUSES CONFUSION. FLT ALLEGEDLY TOOK CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER COMPANY FLT.

Narrative: OUR FLT NUMBER WAS ABC, AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS OTHER ACFT IN THE AIR ON THE SAME FREQ, INCLUDING FLT HBC BY THE SAME CARRIER. WE WERE LEVEL AT 11000' MSL AND THE CTLR STATED 'AIRLINE ABC DSND TO AND MAINTAIN 8000'.' IN RESPONSE WE SAID, 'DSND TO AND MAINTAIN 8000' ABC AIRLINE' FOLLOWED BY THE CTLR SAYING 'AIRLINE ABC ROGER.' APPROX 3 MINS LATER THE CTLR STATED, 'AIRLINE ABC, SAY ALT', AND WE STATED 'LEVEL 8000' AIRLINE ABC.' THE CTLR STATED 'AIRLINE ABC MAINTAIN 8000', THAT WAS FOR YOUR COMPANY.' WE THEN RECEIVED UNUSUAL RADAR VECTORS FOR DTW ARPT. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE WERE GIVEN A BAD ALT CLRNC. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CONFUSION COULD BE REMOVED IF THE MAJOR AIRLINES WOULD SET UP A SCHEDULE IN A MANNER IN WHICH FLT NUMBERS THAT SOUND THE SAME WERE NOT IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME, IE, AIRLINES WITH NUMBERS SUCH AS 385, 885, 585, 285, 325. IN ADDITION SHOULD WE BE REQUIRED TO SAY 'AIRLINES THREE-EIGHT-FIVE' AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I FEEL THAT THIS NATION'S AIR TFC CTLRS ARE UNDERSTAFFED, OVERWORKED AND OPERATING OBSOLETE EQUIPMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

Similar sounding flight numbers causes confusion. Flight allegedly took clearance meant for another company flight.