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An MD80 for reported that similar sounding call signs caused him to respond to another carrier's descent instructions in the vicinity of stl.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 481150 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200008 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : stl.airport |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 29200 msl bound upper : 31000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival star : n/s |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zkc.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival star : n/s |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 481150 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : separated traffic flight crew : returned to assigned altitude |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While exiting a hold and proceeding inbound to stl on the arrival, we received what we thought was the clearance, 'air carrier 12 descend and maintain FL240.' after I repeated back the clearance, 'air carrier 12 descend and maintain FL240,' the captain began his descent. At approximately FL292, center asked if we had wanted a lower altitude, at which time I repeated the clearance we had just received. He then said the clearance to descend to FL240 was for another air carrier 12. When the clearance was given, the captain and I both heard air carrier 12 and the other air carrier 12 never came up on our frequency. I don't know if we or the controller missed the call, but similar sounding call signs 'air carrier 12' was the cause of the mix-up.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN MD80 FOR RPTED THAT SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS CAUSED HIM TO RESPOND TO ANOTHER CARRIER'S DSCNT INSTRUCTIONS IN THE VICINITY OF STL.
Narrative: WHILE EXITING A HOLD AND PROCEEDING INBOUND TO STL ON THE ARR, WE RECEIVED WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS THE CLRNC, 'ACR 12 DSND AND MAINTAIN FL240.' AFTER I REPEATED BACK THE CLRNC, 'ACR 12 DSND AND MAINTAIN FL240,' THE CAPT BEGAN HIS DSCNT. AT APPROX FL292, CTR ASKED IF WE HAD WANTED A LOWER ALT, AT WHICH TIME I REPEATED THE CLRNC WE HAD JUST RECEIVED. HE THEN SAID THE CLRNC TO DSND TO FL240 WAS FOR ANOTHER ACR 12. WHEN THE CLRNC WAS GIVEN, THE CAPT AND I BOTH HEARD ACR 12 AND THE OTHER ACR 12 NEVER CAME UP ON OUR FREQ. I DON'T KNOW IF WE OR THE CTLR MISSED THE CALL, BUT SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGNS 'ACR 12' WAS THE CAUSE OF THE MIX-UP.
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.