<< >> NASA ASRS Report 1454647, June 2017

Center controllers reported the wrong aircraft took a frequency change and descent clearance due to similar sounding callsigns.

Attributes
ACN	1454647
Time
Date	201706
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Bombardier/Canadair Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 13
Person 2
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 26
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

I was expecting aircraft X to check on frequency. However aircraft Y was the aircraft which actually checked on. I hadn't noticed different call sign nor was I expecting a similar sounding aircraft to check in; hence I descended aircraft Y to 21000 feet. A moment later aircraft X checked on frequency which caused suspicion and called up aircraft Y after hearing across the room another controller calling aircraft Y. I quick looked the sector and saw the event in progress. I told the controller I will stop aircraft Y at 29000 feet; promptly called close proximity traffic and after coordination I made a communication change to next controller sector.this was a similar sounding call sign event. By aircraft checking on frequency and not stating their assigned altitude didn't help me to recognize that incorrect call sign from expectation of another aircraft; still a recognition issue none the less.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Center Controllers reported the wrong aircraft took a frequency change and descent clearance due to similar sounding callsigns.

Narrative: I was expecting Aircraft X to check on frequency. However Aircraft Y was the aircraft which actually checked on. I hadn't noticed different call sign nor was I expecting a similar sounding aircraft to check in; hence I descended Aircraft Y to 21000 feet. A moment later Aircraft X checked on frequency which caused suspicion and called up Aircraft Y after hearing across the room another controller calling Aircraft Y. I quick looked the sector and saw the event in progress. I told the controller I will stop Aircraft Y at 29000 feet; promptly called close proximity traffic and after coordination I made a communication change to next controller sector.This was a similar sounding call sign event. By aircraft checking on frequency and not stating their assigned altitude didn't help me to recognize that incorrect call sign from expectation of another aircraft; still a recognition issue none the less.

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.