<< >> NASA ASRS Report 365430, April 1997

DC9-30 flight crew on frequency with 3 similar sounding call signs. Controller does not use complete aircraft number which causes confusion and acceptance of wrong clearance.

Attributes
ACN	365430
Time
Date	199704
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-9 30
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	365430
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
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 talking to dtw approach, several aircraft with very similar call signs, were on the frequency -- air carrier X deb, air carrier Y ded, and air carrier Z deo. The controller rarely used the full call sign and was constantly confusing us. We answered one call (using our full call sign) for a 90 degree left turn and a descent to 6000 ft. Going through 8000 ft the controller questioned where we were going so I repeated our clearance. He then gave us a clearance back 90 degrees to the right and to maintain 8000 ft. I repeated the clearance and he said no, that was for air carrier Y ded. So we continued down toward 6000 ft while turning as originally assigned. He then asked why we were not turning right and maintaining 8000 ft. We climbed to 8000 ft and turned right to 90 degrees. If he had only used all of our full call signs, he would have not confused us or himself so much.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC9-30 FLC ON FREQ WITH 3 SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS. CTLR DOES NOT USE COMPLETE ACFT NUMBER WHICH CAUSES CONFUSION AND ACCEPTANCE OF WRONG CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE TALKING TO DTW APCH, SEVERAL ACFT WITH VERY SIMILAR CALL SIGNS, WERE ON THE FREQ -- ACR X DEB, ACR Y DED, AND ACR Z DEO. THE CTLR RARELY USED THE FULL CALL SIGN AND WAS CONSTANTLY CONFUSING US. WE ANSWERED ONE CALL (USING OUR FULL CALL SIGN) FOR A 90 DEG L TURN AND A DSCNT TO 6000 FT. GOING THROUGH 8000 FT THE CTLR QUESTIONED WHERE WE WERE GOING SO I REPEATED OUR CLRNC. HE THEN GAVE US A CLRNC BACK 90 DEGS TO THE R AND TO MAINTAIN 8000 FT. I REPEATED THE CLRNC AND HE SAID NO, THAT WAS FOR ACR Y DED. SO WE CONTINUED DOWN TOWARD 6000 FT WHILE TURNING AS ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED. HE THEN ASKED WHY WE WERE NOT TURNING R AND MAINTAINING 8000 FT. WE CLBED TO 8000 FT AND TURNED R TO 90 DEGS. IF HE HAD ONLY USED ALL OF OUR FULL CALL SIGNS, HE WOULD HAVE NOT CONFUSED US OR HIMSELF SO MUCH.

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.