Mid pacific call sign confusion with sfo arinc.

Attributes
ACN	154520
Time
Date	199008
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32000 msl bound upper : 34000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific enroute airway : r577 enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : pacific enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	154520
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Air carrier a called us on air to air (air carrier B, call sign xyz) and stated that sfo arinc wanted to talk to us. Called arinc they stated that they had been trying to SELCAL us for 4 mins confirmed our SELCAL identifier, SELCAL did not check. Arinc told us that ATC advises FL340 is available (we had not asked for FL340). I said that we would like to maintain FL320 and that we would maintain a listening watch on arinc (8843) since SELCAL was inoperative. Sfo called air carrier B, call sign xyz approximately 2 mins later and said ATC clears air carrier B, call sign xyz to maintain FL340. I confirmed clearance and reported leaving FL320 for FL340. During climb I heard arinc having trouble raising another aircraft on SELCAL. He then stated it might be his equipment, he would change equipment. I reported reaching FL340 and asked for another SELCAL check. He stated that ATC only advised FL340 available; and, that I stated that I wanted to maintain FL320. I told him that was the first call and that on his second call he told us ATC clears air carrier B, call sign xyz to FL340. Arinc said to stand by while he called ATC. Arinc called back and told us to maintain FL340 and mach 82. Our SELCAL also checked ok. I overheard arinc later talking to air carrier C, call sign xyz confirming his altitude FL320. He was later advised and then cleared to FL340.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MID PACIFIC CALL SIGN CONFUSION WITH SFO ARINC.

Narrative: ACR A CALLED US ON AIR TO AIR (ACR B, CALL SIGN XYZ) AND STATED THAT SFO ARINC WANTED TO TALK TO US. CALLED ARINC THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO SELCAL US FOR 4 MINS CONFIRMED OUR SELCAL IDENTIFIER, SELCAL DID NOT CHK. ARINC TOLD US THAT ATC ADVISES FL340 IS AVAILABLE (WE HAD NOT ASKED FOR FL340). I SAID THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAINTAIN FL320 AND THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN A LISTENING WATCH ON ARINC (8843) SINCE SELCAL WAS INOP. SFO CALLED ACR B, CALL SIGN XYZ APPROX 2 MINS LATER AND SAID ATC CLRS ACR B, CALL SIGN XYZ TO MAINTAIN FL340. I CONFIRMED CLRNC AND RPTED LEAVING FL320 FOR FL340. DURING CLB I HEARD ARINC HAVING TROUBLE RAISING ANOTHER ACFT ON SELCAL. HE THEN STATED IT MIGHT BE HIS EQUIP, HE WOULD CHANGE EQUIP. I RPTED REACHING FL340 AND ASKED FOR ANOTHER SELCAL CHK. HE STATED THAT ATC ONLY ADVISED FL340 AVAILABLE; AND, THAT I STATED THAT I WANTED TO MAINTAIN FL320. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS THE FIRST CALL AND THAT ON HIS SECOND CALL HE TOLD US ATC CLRS ACR B, CALL SIGN XYZ TO FL340. ARINC SAID TO STAND BY WHILE HE CALLED ATC. ARINC CALLED BACK AND TOLD US TO MAINTAIN FL340 AND MACH 82. OUR SELCAL ALSO CHKED OK. I OVERHEARD ARINC LATER TALKING TO ACR C, CALL SIGN XYZ CONFIRMING HIS ALT FL320. HE WAS LATER ADVISED AND THEN CLRED TO FL340.

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.