Similar call signs BE20 reply to wrong call sign non adherence to ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	272196
Time
Date	199405
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
ASRS Report	272196
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While working the departure radar position in the atl TRACON, I received a handoff on a cpr X southeast, a C550 from the altitude satellite position. When I issued a climb instruction from 10000 ft to 14000 ft to this aircraft, 2 aircraft replied. One was from citation X and the other was from nxbs, a BE20 king air. It sounded like 2 crew members initially in the same aircraft. To clarify the situation, I reissued the climb instruction to the citation nxsb and I heard king air nxbs answer who was being worked by another controller. The king air nxbs took the wrong frequency change by the satellite controller and the wrong climb instructions. Supposedly these aircraft belong to the same company and they have other aircraft with call signs similar to nxbs, nxsb, etc. These call signs will end up causing a system deviation or error for an air traffic controller or, worse than that, a near or actual midair. This time the situation was caught during a very busy session without any deviation but it sure caused a lot more work.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR CALL SIGNS BE20 REPLY TO WRONG CALL SIGN NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING THE DEP RADAR POS IN THE ATL TRACON, I RECEIVED A HDOF ON A CPR X SE, A C550 FROM THE ALT SATELLITE POS. WHEN I ISSUED A CLB INSTRUCTION FROM 10000 FT TO 14000 FT TO THIS ACFT, 2 ACFT REPLIED. ONE WAS FROM CITATION X AND THE OTHER WAS FROM NXBS, A BE20 KING AIR. IT SOUNDED LIKE 2 CREW MEMBERS INITIALLY IN THE SAME ACFT. TO CLARIFY THE SIT, I REISSUED THE CLB INSTRUCTION TO THE CITATION NXSB AND I HEARD KING AIR NXBS ANSWER WHO WAS BEING WORKED BY ANOTHER CTLR. THE KING AIR NXBS TOOK THE WRONG FREQ CHANGE BY THE SATELLITE CTLR AND THE WRONG CLB INSTRUCTIONS. SUPPOSEDLY THESE ACFT BELONG TO THE SAME COMPANY AND THEY HAVE OTHER ACFT WITH CALL SIGNS SIMILAR TO NXBS, NXSB, ETC. THESE CALL SIGNS WILL END UP CAUSING A SYS DEV OR ERROR FOR AN AIR TFC CTLR OR, WORSE THAN THAT, A NEAR OR ACTUAL MIDAIR. THIS TIME THE SIT WAS CAUGHT DURING A VERY BUSY SESSION WITHOUT ANY DEV BUT IT SURE CAUSED A LOT MORE WORK.

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.