Captain of a B767 concern regarding the unsafe condition of similar company call signs.

Attributes
ACN	492820
Time
Date	200011
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : pmm.vortac
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 19000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	492820
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Company
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

I submitted a report in nov/00 regarding similar call signs. Upon our return, we were under ATC control along with aircraft XXX and xxy. This caused the controller to repeat each clearance twice to eliminate confusion. I think scheduling needs to seriously look at this problem to avoid midair and safety violations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A B767 CONCERN REGARDING THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF SIMILAR COMPANY CALL SIGNS.

Narrative: I SUBMITTED A RPT IN NOV/00 REGARDING SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. UPON OUR RETURN, WE WERE UNDER ATC CTL ALONG WITH ACFT XXX AND XXY. THIS CAUSED THE CTLR TO REPEAT EACH CLRNC TWICE TO ELIMINATE CONFUSION. I THINK SCHEDULING NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT THIS PROB TO AVOID MIDAIR AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS.

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.