Similar call signs causes problems in the northeast corridor.

Attributes
ACN	477191
Time
Date	200006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 19000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tower : sdf.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : n/s
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	477191
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

Due to WX delay, 2 flts departed dca for lga within about 10 mins. They had very similar call signs. Due to our proximity, both flts were on the same ATC frequency most of the way to lga. ATC was very busy due to thunderstorms on the route and heavy volume and ATC seemed to be having some difficulty with the similar call signs. The controller gave us a frequency change meant for the other aircraft. While cruising at FL190 we requested a deviation for WX. Center cleared us to descend to 13000 ft and approved the deviation. As we passed through approximately FL180, center inquired as to our assigned altitude and it became apparent that he had thought we were the other aircraft. We leveled at 16000 ft and there seemed to be no conflict.. It is my perception that controllers in the northeast corridor are working at maximum capacity -- especially on WX days. We need to be alert.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR CALL SIGNS CAUSES PROBS IN THE NE CORRIDOR.

Narrative: DUE TO WX DELAY, 2 FLTS DEPARTED DCA FOR LGA WITHIN ABOUT 10 MINS. THEY HAD VERY SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. DUE TO OUR PROX, BOTH FLTS WERE ON THE SAME ATC FREQ MOST OF THE WAY TO LGA. ATC WAS VERY BUSY DUE TO TSTMS ON THE RTE AND HVY VOLUME AND ATC SEEMED TO BE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY WITH THE SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. THE CTLR GAVE US A FREQ CHANGE MEANT FOR THE OTHER ACFT. WHILE CRUISING AT FL190 WE REQUESTED A DEV FOR WX. CTR CLRED US TO DSND TO 13000 FT AND APPROVED THE DEV. AS WE PASSED THROUGH APPROX FL180, CTR INQUIRED AS TO OUR ASSIGNED ALT AND IT BECAME APPARENT THAT HE HAD THOUGHT WE WERE THE OTHER ACFT. WE LEVELED AT 16000 FT AND THERE SEEMED TO BE NO CONFLICT.. IT IS MY PERCEPTION THAT CTLRS IN THE NE CORRIDOR ARE WORKING AT MAX CAPACITY -- ESPECIALLY ON WX DAYS. WE NEED TO BE ALERT.

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.