Narrative:

We, air carrier cbzqr, took off from runway 26R at phx and switched to departure at approximately 7 DME from the srp VOR. Passing 8 DME (we were flying the payso 5 departure) we heard, 'air carrier B...qr, turn right to 090 degrees.' we read back with our call sign and began turn. Departure then asked air carrier cbzqr to check our transponder. Air carrier abpqr replied instead. Departure then asked air carrier cbzqr to 'say heading.' again air carrier abpqr replied. We then informed departure that we were turning through 350 degrees and that someone had been replying for us. Departure then instructed us to turn left to 270 degrees and maintain 5000'. We had been cleared to 8000'. Air carrier cbzqr then said that departure was cutting off the first part of xmissions. No altitude deviation occurred, but a flight path deviation did occur. We estimated that we were 2-3 mi north of the flight path depicted on payso 5. Causes: very similar call signs. Departure cutting off part of xmissions. We had wrong transponder code set. Suggestions: give air carrier ab or air carrier circuit breaker a new distinct call sign. Both pilots and controllers should repeat twice similar sounding call signs when on a frequency together. Pilots should question unusual instructions such as a very early turn on a SID.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF ACR MLG TAKES CLRNC INTENDED FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN WHEN DEPARTING PHX.

Narrative: WE, ACR CBZQR, TOOK OFF FROM RWY 26R AT PHX AND SWITCHED TO DEP AT APPROX 7 DME FROM THE SRP VOR. PASSING 8 DME (WE WERE FLYING THE PAYSO 5 DEP) WE HEARD, 'ACR B...QR, TURN RIGHT TO 090 DEGS.' WE READ BACK WITH OUR CALL SIGN AND BEGAN TURN. DEP THEN ASKED ACR CBZQR TO CHK OUR XPONDER. ACR ABPQR REPLIED INSTEAD. DEP THEN ASKED ACR CBZQR TO 'SAY HDG.' AGAIN ACR ABPQR REPLIED. WE THEN INFORMED DEP THAT WE WERE TURNING THROUGH 350 DEGS AND THAT SOMEONE HAD BEEN REPLYING FOR US. DEP THEN INSTRUCTED US TO TURN LEFT TO 270 DEGS AND MAINTAIN 5000'. WE HAD BEEN CLRED TO 8000'. ACR CBZQR THEN SAID THAT DEP WAS CUTTING OFF THE FIRST PART OF XMISSIONS. NO ALT DEVIATION OCCURRED, BUT A FLT PATH DEVIATION DID OCCUR. WE ESTIMATED THAT WE WERE 2-3 MI N OF THE FLT PATH DEPICTED ON PAYSO 5. CAUSES: VERY SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. DEP CUTTING OFF PART OF XMISSIONS. WE HAD WRONG XPONDER CODE SET. SUGGESTIONS: GIVE ACR AB OR ACR CB A NEW DISTINCT CALL SIGN. BOTH PLTS AND CTLRS SHOULD REPEAT TWICE SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS WHEN ON A FREQ TOGETHER. PLTS SHOULD QUESTION UNUSUAL INSTRUCTIONS SUCH AS A VERY EARLY TURN ON A SID.

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.