B737 flight crew take another company's clearance, adding to a complex traffic situation.

Attributes
ACN	458333
Time
Date	199912
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : other published ifr departure enroute : direct enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : other published ifr departure
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	458333
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Shortly after takeoff (departure control) congestion on the frequency along with similar call signs company xyy (us) and company yxy. Controller and copilot were quite busy with a mix-up between departure control and copilot with call signs and clrncs. Controller seemed overloaded (anxiety in voice). Copilot read back clearance, the controller acknowledged. We went from 6000 ft to 14000 ft direct to dixie intersection. However, we decided to verify with the controller's workload and anxiety even though controller acknowledged. There was so much going on we couldn't break in for 60 seconds. When we verified, it was understood by the controller that one of us or none of us made a mistake. More simplified procedures and more controllers would minimize these problems at crucial times on the flight deck, and relieve the constant change of the situation for the controllers. Also, written clearance in the box would clear up speed misunderstandings. Supplemental information from acn 458768: the controller told us I had taken the wrong climb clearance, which was intended for company yxy heavy. Captain asked if controller still wanted direct cdl, and controller replied negative. I then asked if we should be direct dixie and was told yes. Captain asked if there were any problems and controller said there was not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC TAKE ANOTHER COMPANY'S CLRNC, ADDING TO A COMPLEX TFC SIT.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER TKOF (DEP CTL) CONGESTION ON THE FREQ ALONG WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS COMPANY XYY (US) AND COMPANY YXY. CTLR AND COPLT WERE QUITE BUSY WITH A MIX-UP BTWN DEP CTL AND COPLT WITH CALL SIGNS AND CLRNCS. CTLR SEEMED OVERLOADED (ANXIETY IN VOICE). COPLT READ BACK CLRNC, THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED. WE WENT FROM 6000 FT TO 14000 FT DIRECT TO DIXIE INTXN. HOWEVER, WE DECIDED TO VERIFY WITH THE CTLR'S WORKLOAD AND ANXIETY EVEN THOUGH CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED. THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON WE COULDN'T BREAK IN FOR 60 SECONDS. WHEN WE VERIFIED, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD BY THE CTLR THAT ONE OF US OR NONE OF US MADE A MISTAKE. MORE SIMPLIFIED PROCS AND MORE CTLRS WOULD MINIMIZE THESE PROBS AT CRUCIAL TIMES ON THE FLT DECK, AND RELIEVE THE CONSTANT CHANGE OF THE SIT FOR THE CTLRS. ALSO, WRITTEN CLRNC IN THE BOX WOULD CLR UP SPD MISUNDERSTANDINGS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 458768: THE CTLR TOLD US I HAD TAKEN THE WRONG CLB CLRNC, WHICH WAS INTENDED FOR COMPANY YXY HVY. CAPT ASKED IF CTLR STILL WANTED DIRECT CDL, AND CTLR REPLIED NEGATIVE. I THEN ASKED IF WE SHOULD BE DIRECT DIXIE AND WAS TOLD YES. CAPT ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY PROBS AND CTLR SAID THERE WAS NOT.

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.