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Two socal TRACON controllers reported a situation when similar sounding callsigns resulted in a loss of separation on final.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1459026 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201706 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | SCT.TRACON |
| State Reference | CA |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Widebody Transport |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Route In Use | Other Instrument Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | A321 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Approach |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Approach |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 22 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Speed All Types |
Narrative:
Working downey sector; aircraft X was on final for runway 25L at 170knots. Aircraft Y was about 8 miles in trail; I instructed aircraft Y to slow to 210knots; and there was no reply; reached out for aircraft Y again no answer. I then asked feeder to try the aircraft again. A plane who I thought was aircraft Y checks in slowing to 180knots. I next slowed the aircraft to 150 knots; canceled the approach clearance to maintain separation. When it was obviously not going to work I turned the aircraft and instructed them to climb to 4000. At that point the pilot asked if that instruction is for aircraft Z. I stayed negative; aircraft Y. I reached out for aircraft Y again; no reply. I was also using our traffic situation display to look for aircraft Y. I noticed the plane was in feeder's airspace and switched them to their frequency. Within seconds aircraft Y was found on stadium sectors frequency. I then broke the aircraft X off the approach and aircraft Y continued with the approach. After reviewing all of the sectors voice and the replay; this situation was 'the perfect storm.' it was a complex puzzle and once we figured out all the pieces; we took all the steps to establish separation and get every plane safely in position. It always sounds easy; expect a bad read back; you'll catch it. Always try to make yourself aware of similar sounding call signs.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Two SoCal TRACON Controllers reported a situation when similar sounding callsigns resulted in a loss of separation on final.
Narrative: Working Downey Sector; Aircraft X was on final for Runway 25L at 170knots. Aircraft Y was about 8 miles in trail; I instructed Aircraft Y to slow to 210knots; and there was no reply; reached out for Aircraft Y again no answer. I then asked Feeder to try the aircraft again. A plane who I thought was Aircraft Y checks in slowing to 180knots. I next slowed the aircraft to 150 knots; canceled the approach clearance to maintain separation. When it was obviously not going to work I turned the aircraft and instructed them to climb to 4000. At that point the pilot asked if that instruction is for Aircraft Z. I stayed negative; Aircraft Y. I reached out for Aircraft Y again; no reply. I was also using our traffic situation display to look for Aircraft Y. I noticed the plane was in feeder's airspace and switched them to their frequency. Within seconds Aircraft Y was found on Stadium sectors frequency. I then broke the Aircraft X off the approach and Aircraft Y continued with the approach. After reviewing all of the sectors voice and the replay; this situation was 'The Perfect Storm.' It was a complex puzzle and once we figured out all the pieces; we took all the steps to establish separation and get every plane safely in position. It always sounds easy; expect a bad read back; you'll catch it. Always try to make yourself aware of similar sounding call signs.
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.