B737-800 flight crew reported there was confusion about their descent clearance due to a similar sou...

Attributes
ACN	1652408
Time
Date	201906
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZME.ARTCC
State Reference	TN
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 381
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 454
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

We were level at FL390 and told to contact memphis center. After the first officer checked in at FL390 center cleared us to FL340. About 5 minutes later memphis center asked if we were on the frequency and the first officer stated that we already checked in and were cleared to FL340. Memphis center stated that she was looking for us and then cleared us to FL330. She was very busy and had [another company aircraft] on frequency so I think that she mistakenly assumed it was company flight when we checked in. She used our call sign when she initially cleared us to FL340.reduce similar sounding company call signs in sectors to help task saturated ATC controllers.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 flight crew reported there was confusion about their descent clearance due to a similar sounding call sign on the same frequency.

Narrative: We were level at FL390 and told to contact Memphis Center. After the First Officer checked in at FL390 Center cleared us to FL340. About 5 minutes later Memphis Center asked if we were on the frequency and the First Officer stated that we already checked in and were cleared to FL340. Memphis Center stated that she was looking for us and then cleared us to FL330. She was very busy and had [another Company aircraft] on frequency so I think that she mistakenly assumed it was Company flight when we checked in. She used our call sign when she initially cleared us to FL340.Reduce similar sounding Company call signs in sectors to help task saturated ATC controllers.

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.