Controller issues clearance to wrong flight when similar flight #'south on frequency.

Attributes
ACN	184237
Time
Date	199107
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3600 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	184237
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 8200 flight time type : 2700
ASRS Report	184234
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence other other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Extreme confusion resulted from 2 flts using similar call signs, company ddei and deei. All parties involved including the controllers at 2 approach control positions lost track of which flight was which. We were mistakenly handed off (even though we answered with our correct call sign twice) and the new controller did not catch the mistake until he cleared us to descend to 3600 ft out of 6000 ft. Our company realized that there was a potential conflict and the dispatcher had noted on our release 'use #eaej for ATC purposes'. However, the only flight plan on file was for ddei so we used that, even though the controller offered to have # changed. This was a big mistake, and we learned something from that. Airlines, when they see a potential conflict with flight #'south, should change the # to something completely different (on schedules, not just 'for ATC purposes'). This would eliminate these problems. Supplemental information from acn 184234: I have asked the company numerous times over the past few yrs to stop scheduling aircraft with similar flight #'south into the same airport, but it seems they cannot grasp the seriousness of the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR ISSUES CLRNC TO WRONG FLT WHEN SIMILAR FLT #'S ON FREQ.

Narrative: EXTREME CONFUSION RESULTED FROM 2 FLTS USING SIMILAR CALL SIGNS, COMPANY DDEI AND DEEI. ALL PARTIES INVOLVED INCLUDING THE CTLRS AT 2 APCH CTL POSITIONS LOST TRACK OF WHICH FLT WAS WHICH. WE WERE MISTAKENLY HANDED OFF (EVEN THOUGH WE ANSWERED WITH OUR CORRECT CALL SIGN TWICE) AND THE NEW CTLR DID NOT CATCH THE MISTAKE UNTIL HE CLRED US TO DSND TO 3600 FT OUT OF 6000 FT. OUR COMPANY REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT AND THE DISPATCHER HAD NOTED ON OUR RELEASE 'USE #EAEJ FOR ATC PURPOSES'. HOWEVER, THE ONLY FLT PLAN ON FILE WAS FOR DDEI SO WE USED THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE CTLR OFFERED TO HAVE # CHANGED. THIS WAS A BIG MISTAKE, AND WE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THAT. AIRLINES, WHEN THEY SEE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH FLT #'S, SHOULD CHANGE THE # TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (ON SCHEDULES, NOT JUST 'FOR ATC PURPOSES'). THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THESE PROBLEMS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 184234: I HAVE ASKED THE COMPANY NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YRS TO STOP SCHEDULING ACFT WITH SIMILAR FLT #'S INTO THE SAME ARPT, BUT IT SEEMS THEY CANNOT GRASP THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION.

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.