Reply to wrong call sign.

Attributes
ACN	246226
Time
Date	199307
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg artcc : zoa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	246226
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On arrival into cvg approximately 20-30 NM southwest of the cvg VOR at 12000 ft inbound on the 060 degree heading (240 degree radial from cvg VOR). We were on cvg approach control when we heard the controller say 'air carrier I need to widen you out, fly heading 350 degrees.' I read back 'air carrier 350 degrees' and we turned to that heading. Approximately 1-2 mins later, the controller asked us our heading and why we had turned. I replied '350 degrees on an assigned heading.' the controller said 'turn immediately to 090 degrees, that 350 degree heading was for an aircraft on another frequency.' we immediately turned to 090 degrees. I believe the controller working 2 frequencys and the fact that there were similar flight numbers on each frequency were the contributing factors. Controllers working separate frequencys makes it very difficult for us to maintain as high a situational awareness as we could. On a single frequency we are able to hear if another flight answers the controller's instructions when we think the instructions are for us. That raises a question in our minds and we are able to ask 'was that last call for us (flight number).' also the fact that 2 aircraft answer at the same time (each thinking the instruction was for them) will alert the controller and enable him/her to say 'blocked, confirm flight XXX...' and he can confirm/reissue his instructions. Obviously similar flight numbers, be it on a single frequency or separate frequencys, are a major drawback.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPLY TO WRONG CALL SIGN.

Narrative: ON ARR INTO CVG APPROX 20-30 NM SW OF THE CVG VOR AT 12000 FT INBOUND ON THE 060 DEG HDG (240 DEG RADIAL FROM CVG VOR). WE WERE ON CVG APCH CTL WHEN WE HEARD THE CTLR SAY 'ACR I NEED TO WIDEN YOU OUT, FLY HDG 350 DEGS.' I READ BACK 'ACR 350 DEGS' AND WE TURNED TO THAT HDG. APPROX 1-2 MINS LATER, THE CTLR ASKED US OUR HDG AND WHY WE HAD TURNED. I REPLIED '350 DEGS ON AN ASSIGNED HDG.' THE CTLR SAID 'TURN IMMEDIATELY TO 090 DEGS, THAT 350 DEG HDG WAS FOR AN ACFT ON ANOTHER FREQ.' WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO 090 DEGS. I BELIEVE THE CTLR WORKING 2 FREQS AND THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SIMILAR FLT NUMBERS ON EACH FREQ WERE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. CTLRS WORKING SEPARATE FREQS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MAINTAIN AS HIGH A SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AS WE COULD. ON A SINGLE FREQ WE ARE ABLE TO HEAR IF ANOTHER FLT ANSWERS THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS WHEN WE THINK THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR US. THAT RAISES A QUESTION IN OUR MINDS AND WE ARE ABLE TO ASK 'WAS THAT LAST CALL FOR US (FLT NUMBER).' ALSO THE FACT THAT 2 ACFT ANSWER AT THE SAME TIME (EACH THINKING THE INSTRUCTION WAS FOR THEM) WILL ALERT THE CTLR AND ENABLE HIM/HER TO SAY 'BLOCKED, CONFIRM FLT XXX...' AND HE CAN CONFIRM/REISSUE HIS INSTRUCTIONS. OBVIOUSLY SIMILAR FLT NUMBERS, BE IT ON A SINGLE FREQ OR SEPARATE FREQS, ARE A MAJOR DRAWBACK.

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.