B727 crew had call sign confusion in ZFW class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	481861
Time
Date	200008
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mlc.airport
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 30000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	481861
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment : conflict alert other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance FAA
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : zfw.artcc

Narrative:

We, air carrier X, were climbing out of FL300 to FL370. ZFW asked us to expedite through FL330. We said, '1000 FPM is the best we can do.' then the tower controller said either our call sign or air carrier Y call sign and said, 'turn 30 degrees right for traffic.' air carrier Y replied, 'roger, air carrier Y.' a few mins later, center said, 'air carrier X, did you turn 30 degrees right?' we said, 'negative, air carrier Y responded to that command and we thought you were calling him.' there was a 20 second silence and ZFW said, 'verify your altitude is FL330.' I said we are out of FL326 for FL370. Another silence. Then I said 'we are now out of FL330 for FL370. ZFW responded with a turn over command to the next controller. This was a case of two call signs sounding virtually alike, the wrong aircraft responded to the command and we, air carrier X, didn't catch it -- neither did ZFW. We don't know if we broke separation or not. If the 'snitch patch' is alive and well, we may hear about this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW HAD CALL SIGN CONFUSION IN ZFW CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE, ACR X, WERE CLBING OUT OF FL300 TO FL370. ZFW ASKED US TO EXPEDITE THROUGH FL330. WE SAID, '1000 FPM IS THE BEST WE CAN DO.' THEN THE TWR CTLR SAID EITHER OUR CALL SIGN OR ACR Y CALL SIGN AND SAID, 'TURN 30 DEGS R FOR TFC.' ACR Y REPLIED, 'ROGER, ACR Y.' A FEW MINS LATER, CTR SAID, 'ACR X, DID YOU TURN 30 DEGS R?' WE SAID, 'NEGATIVE, ACR Y RESPONDED TO THAT COMMAND AND WE THOUGHT YOU WERE CALLING HIM.' THERE WAS A 20 SECOND SILENCE AND ZFW SAID, 'VERIFY YOUR ALT IS FL330.' I SAID WE ARE OUT OF FL326 FOR FL370. ANOTHER SILENCE. THEN I SAID 'WE ARE NOW OUT OF FL330 FOR FL370. ZFW RESPONDED WITH A TURN OVER COMMAND TO THE NEXT CTLR. THIS WAS A CASE OF TWO CALL SIGNS SOUNDING VIRTUALLY ALIKE, THE WRONG ACFT RESPONDED TO THE COMMAND AND WE, ACR X, DIDN'T CATCH IT -- NEITHER DID ZFW. WE DON'T KNOW IF WE BROKE SEPARATION OR NOT. IF THE 'SNITCH PATCH' IS ALIVE AND WELL, WE MAY HEAR ABOUT THIS.

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.