Flight crew of EMB120 receives clearance not meant for them but with their call sign.

Attributes
ACN	364010
Time
Date	199703
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	364010
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 2300
ASRS Report	363828
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
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	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on arrival to atl, 40 mi southeast at 11000 ft, we received the call 'air carrier X descend and maintain 9000 ft heading 080 degrees.' we answered the call and queried the altitude. The response was air carrier X now heading 090 degrees 7000 ft. We read back the clearance again and I asked the first officer if he thought it was 'strange' to be doing that and he agreed it was. No comments about blocked radio calls were made and we heard no other aircraft responding to the xmissions. Heading 090 degrees and descending through 10000 ft, atl approach called us and said 'air carrier X what are you doing?' we responded 'heading 090 degrees descending out of 10000 ft for 7000 ft per your request, air carrier X.' approach responded with 'that was for air carrier Y, air carrier X climb immediately to 11000 ft heading 270 degrees rejoin the arrival.' I have discussed this with the first officer and we both agreed the original and subsequent calls were for us (air carrier X). Our belief is enhanced by the repeated nature of the calls, 2-3 calls for heading and altitude changes by each party. Supplemental information from acn 363828: both the captain and myself feel we were not at fault for the miscom and subsequent chain of events. No other aircraft were in the area at the time and nothing else was said in later xmissions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF EMB120 RECEIVES CLRNC NOT MEANT FOR THEM BUT WITH THEIR CALL SIGN.

Narrative: WHILE ON ARR TO ATL, 40 MI SE AT 11000 FT, WE RECEIVED THE CALL 'ACR X DSND AND MAINTAIN 9000 FT HDG 080 DEGS.' WE ANSWERED THE CALL AND QUERIED THE ALT. THE RESPONSE WAS ACR X NOW HDG 090 DEGS 7000 FT. WE READ BACK THE CLRNC AGAIN AND I ASKED THE FO IF HE THOUGHT IT WAS 'STRANGE' TO BE DOING THAT AND HE AGREED IT WAS. NO COMMENTS ABOUT BLOCKED RADIO CALLS WERE MADE AND WE HEARD NO OTHER ACFT RESPONDING TO THE XMISSIONS. HDG 090 DEGS AND DSNDING THROUGH 10000 FT, ATL APCH CALLED US AND SAID 'ACR X WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' WE RESPONDED 'HDG 090 DEGS DSNDING OUT OF 10000 FT FOR 7000 FT PER YOUR REQUEST, ACR X.' APCH RESPONDED WITH 'THAT WAS FOR ACR Y, ACR X CLB IMMEDIATELY TO 11000 FT HDG 270 DEGS REJOIN THE ARR.' I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE FO AND WE BOTH AGREED THE ORIGINAL AND SUBSEQUENT CALLS WERE FOR US (ACR X). OUR BELIEF IS ENHANCED BY THE REPEATED NATURE OF THE CALLS, 2-3 CALLS FOR HDG AND ALT CHANGES BY EACH PARTY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 363828: BOTH THE CAPT AND MYSELF FEEL WE WERE NOT AT FAULT FOR THE MISCOM AND SUBSEQUENT CHAIN OF EVENTS. NO OTHER ACFT WERE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME AND NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID IN LATER XMISSIONS.

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.