Air carrier pilot uses non standard phraseology when using call sign resulting in the controller ask...

Attributes
ACN	373537
Time
Date	199707
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 35000 msl bound upper : 35000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 15 controller radar : 15 controller supervisory : 1
ASRS Report	373537
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While working intermediate altitude airspace north of atlanta, I was moderately busy with 7-9 aircraft. Most of the aircraft were either deviating for WX or transitioning to higher/lower altitude. Air carrier WWWW was northbound at FL310 and about to enter the airspace. I heard an aircraft call to check in, but I did not understand the call sign and asked the pilot to say again. Again I asked the pilot to repeat, and I thought I heard air carrier xyz. Since I was not expecting air carrier xyz, I used the computer to search for air carrier xyz without success. After failing to locate the aircraft, I asked the pilot to say again one more time. This time the pilot answered with 'air carrier WWWW' and I acknowledged his transmission. Later I finally realized the pilot had been calling himself 'air carrier FFFF.' he continued to use this call sign throughout my sector and at least the next sector. Of course, I'm well aware that pilots are not required to use standard phraseology (as controllers are) but the confusion, delay, and extra xmissions needed to locate and identify this aircraft were most unwelcome.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT USES NON STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY WHEN USING CALL SIGN RESULTING IN THE CTLR ASKING THE PLT 3 TIMES REPEAT ACFT CALL SIGN. THE ACR PLT CONTINUED USING THE CONFUSING CALL SIGN WHILE IN THE CTLR'S AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING INTERMEDIATE ALT AIRSPACE N OF ATLANTA, I WAS MODERATELY BUSY WITH 7-9 ACFT. MOST OF THE ACFT WERE EITHER DEVIATING FOR WX OR TRANSITIONING TO HIGHER/LOWER ALT. ACR WWWW WAS NBOUND AT FL310 AND ABOUT TO ENTER THE AIRSPACE. I HEARD AN ACFT CALL TO CHK IN, BUT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE CALL SIGN AND ASKED THE PLT TO SAY AGAIN. AGAIN I ASKED THE PLT TO REPEAT, AND I THOUGHT I HEARD ACR XYZ. SINCE I WAS NOT EXPECTING ACR XYZ, I USED THE COMPUTER TO SEARCH FOR ACR XYZ WITHOUT SUCCESS. AFTER FAILING TO LOCATE THE ACFT, I ASKED THE PLT TO SAY AGAIN ONE MORE TIME. THIS TIME THE PLT ANSWERED WITH 'ACR WWWW' AND I ACKNOWLEDGED HIS XMISSION. LATER I FINALLY REALIZED THE PLT HAD BEEN CALLING HIMSELF 'ACR FFFF.' HE CONTINUED TO USE THIS CALL SIGN THROUGHOUT MY SECTOR AND AT LEAST THE NEXT SECTOR. OF COURSE, I'M WELL AWARE THAT PLTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO USE STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY (AS CTLRS ARE) BUT THE CONFUSION, DELAY, AND EXTRA XMISSIONS NEEDED TO LOCATE AND IDENT THIS ACFT WERE MOST UNWELCOME.

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.

Air carrier pilot uses non standard phraseology when using call sign resulting in the controller asking the pilot 3 times repeat aircraft call sign. The air carrier pilot continued using the confusing call sign while in the controller's airspace.