Narrative:

During arrival at montego bay, jamaica, communications with sangster approach control were very difficult due to the heavy accent of the jamaican controller. While at 7000 ft MSL on the 12 DME arc of the VOR DME approach to runway 7, we mistakenly accepted an approach clearance apparently meant for another aircraft and began our descent toward the published minimum altitude on the arc (3000 ft MSL). The PNF read back the clearance and received no response from sangster approach. A response was neither expected nor required by ICAO policy. Later during the approach, sangster approach control asked our position and altitude. When we replied that we were descending through 5500 ft MSL toward 3000 ft MSL sangster approach control told us that the approach clearance that was issued about 2 mins earlier was meant for another aircraft and that our last clearance was only to 7000 ft. Then, sangster approach cleared us for the approach and we landed uneventfully. As far as I know, minimum separation from other aircraft was not compromised. More fluency in english as well as the installation of a radar would greatly help sangster approach control avoid similar incidents.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN AIRBUS A320 DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED APCH ALT DUE TO REPLYING TO WRONG CALL SIGN. ATC CTLR SAID NOTHING WHEN THE CAPT READ BACK THE CLRNC.

Narrative: DURING ARR AT MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, COMS WITH SANGSTER APCH CTL WERE VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE HVY ACCENT OF THE JAMAICAN CTLR. WHILE AT 7000 FT MSL ON THE 12 DME ARC OF THE VOR DME APCH TO RWY 7, WE MISTAKENLY ACCEPTED AN APCH CLRNC APPARENTLY MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT AND BEGAN OUR DSCNT TOWARD THE PUBLISHED MINIMUM ALT ON THE ARC (3000 FT MSL). THE PNF READ BACK THE CLRNC AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM SANGSTER APCH. A RESPONSE WAS NEITHER EXPECTED NOR REQUIRED BY ICAO POLICY. LATER DURING THE APCH, SANGSTER APCH CTL ASKED OUR POS AND ALT. WHEN WE REPLIED THAT WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH 5500 FT MSL TOWARD 3000 FT MSL SANGSTER APCH CTL TOLD US THAT THE APCH CLRNC THAT WAS ISSUED ABOUT 2 MINS EARLIER WAS MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT AND THAT OUR LAST CLRNC WAS ONLY TO 7000 FT. THEN, SANGSTER APCH CLRED US FOR THE APCH AND WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. AS FAR AS I KNOW, MINIMUM SEPARATION FROM OTHER ACFT WAS NOT COMPROMISED. MORE FLUENCY IN ENGLISH AS WELL AS THE INSTALLATION OF A RADAR WOULD GREATLY HELP SANGSTER APCH CTL AVOID SIMILAR INCIDENTS.

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.