Narrative:

While descending on the ZIGGY7 arrival we were informed that the winds precluded our landing at sbd. We were given holding instructions to hold northeast on the pdz 030/15 at 10;000 ft. After several turns in the hold; the controller asked us our intentions as we were in the path of several inbound aircraft. We were told by [dispatch] to hold as long as possible so I asked for another holding area. We were then given a clearance told to hold on the riverside 020 radial; right turns; 8 mile legs at 10;000 ft. Due to the close proximity of our next hold; I quickly entered riv and built the hold as we proceeded to the riv VOR for entry. On our outbound leg; the controller asked us if we were proceeding to the 020 radial and I told him that we were on our outbound leg and would turn to proceed inbound on the 020 radial. He said ok. After a turn or two the next controller relieving him asked us if we were on the riverside VOR; the 'ral' VOR! I told him that we were on the riv VOR and he said no problem and we built another hold and proceeded to the ral VOR and held. Not being that familiar with the VOR identification's; I thought that the first controller meant riverside (riv). The identification 'riv' is for march arb; riv. The identification 'ral' is for riverside municipal; ral. The first controller did not specify which riverside VOR; nor did he spell out the fix to hold at in his clearance. Due to the close proximity of same-name airports; I wanted to bring this to attention so crews can be aware of the two riverside airports and vors if they are given holding instructions while operating in socal's airspace.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 Captain reported entering into a holding pattern on the RIV VOR instead of the RAL VOR as cleared.

Narrative: While descending on the ZIGGY7 arrival we were informed that the winds precluded our landing at SBD. We were given holding instructions to hold northeast on the PDZ 030/15 at 10;000 ft. After several turns in the hold; the controller asked us our intentions as we were in the path of several inbound aircraft. We were told by [dispatch] to hold as long as possible so I asked for another holding area. We were then given a clearance told to hold on the Riverside 020 radial; right turns; 8 mile legs at 10;000 ft. Due to the close proximity of our next hold; I quickly entered RIV and built the hold as we proceeded to the RIV VOR for entry. On our outbound leg; the controller asked us if we were proceeding to the 020 radial and I told him that we were on our outbound leg and would turn to proceed inbound on the 020 radial. He said ok. After a turn or two the next controller relieving him asked us if we were on the Riverside VOR; the 'RAL' VOR! I told him that we were on the RIV VOR and he said no problem and we built another hold and proceeded to the RAL VOR and held. Not being that familiar with the VOR ID's; I thought that the first controller meant Riverside (RIV). The ID 'RIV' is for March ARB; RIV. The ID 'RAL' is for Riverside Municipal; RAL. The first controller did not specify which Riverside VOR; nor did he spell out the fix to hold at in his clearance. Due to the close proximity of same-name airports; I wanted to bring this to attention so crews can be aware of the two Riverside airports and VORs if they are given holding instructions while operating in SOCAL's airspace.

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.