Narrative:

FL370, flight conditions clear and approximately 50 NM west of indianapolis, in, center cleared us to tvt (116.5) VOR, V-523 dalts intersection, direct cak (akron). We tuned in 116.5 on the #1 navigation, centered the needle, made an approximately 20 degree left turn, then proceeded to the VOR, then DME outbnd for 25 NM. After xchking with the GNS, which indicated we were approximately 190 NM from akron we knew this was not the tvt VOR. It turned out to be the gus TACAN DME which has the same frequency as tvt. At this time we attempted to contact center but were unable to establish contact. A frequency was obtained from a low altitude chart. After contact was established with center, they indicated they had been trying to establish contact with us but were unable. (After receiving the initial clearance, no further contact or transmission was received from center) after reestablishing contact with center, a clearance was received cleared to vwv direct mfd then direct cak. It seems to me we have 2 vors with the same frequency (116.5 gus and 116.5 tvt) within approximately 200 NM of each other. This type of clearance represents a safety hazard since these 2 vors are close together. It seems to me the controller didn't realize or disregarded the fact that gus 116.5 was too close to our route of flight and was received instead of tvt.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT AT FL370 GIVEN DIRECT TVT RECEIVED ERRONEOUS DME. LOST CONTACT MOMENTARILY WITH CENTER. REGAINED CONTACT AND RECEIVED ANOTHER CLRNC.

Narrative: FL370, FLT CONDITIONS CLR AND APPROX 50 NM W OF INDIANAPOLIS, IN, CENTER CLRED US TO TVT (116.5) VOR, V-523 DALTS INTXN, DIRECT CAK (AKRON). WE TUNED IN 116.5 ON THE #1 NAV, CENTERED THE NEEDLE, MADE AN APPROX 20 DEG L TURN, THEN PROCEEDED TO THE VOR, THEN DME OUTBND FOR 25 NM. AFTER XCHKING WITH THE GNS, WHICH INDICATED WE WERE APPROX 190 NM FROM AKRON WE KNEW THIS WAS NOT THE TVT VOR. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE GUS TACAN DME WHICH HAS THE SAME FREQ AS TVT. AT THIS TIME WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT CENTER BUT WERE UNABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT. A FREQ WAS OBTAINED FROM A LOW ALT CHART. AFTER CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH CENTER, THEY INDICATED THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH US BUT WERE UNABLE. (AFTER RECEIVING THE INITIAL CLRNC, NO FURTHER CONTACT OR XMISSION WAS RECEIVED FROM CENTER) AFTER REESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH CENTER, A CLRNC WAS RECEIVED CLRED TO VWV DIRECT MFD THEN DIRECT CAK. IT SEEMS TO ME WE HAVE 2 VORS WITH THE SAME FREQ (116.5 GUS AND 116.5 TVT) WITHIN APPROX 200 NM OF EACH OTHER. THIS TYPE OF CLRNC REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THESE 2 VORS ARE CLOSE TOGETHER. IT SEEMS TO ME THE CTLR DIDN'T REALIZE OR DISREGARDED THE FACT THAT GUS 116.5 WAS TOO CLOSE TO OUR RTE OF FLT AND WAS RECEIVED INSTEAD OF TVT.

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.