Similar call signs cause traffic problems when controller uses wrong call sign when issuing vectors.

Attributes
ACN	493860
Time
Date	200011
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : djb.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	493860
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While en route from chs to dtw, our flight air carrier xyz was being vectored after a climb from FL210 to FL270. The ATC controller issued a turn to 060 degrees for air carrier yyz. That aircraft acknowledged. About 5 mins later, the ATC controller called us (air carrier xyz) and asked if we had turned to 060 degrees yet. We replied in the negative and advised him that he had issued those instructions to air carrier yyz. He then issued immediate turn instructions to 2 other aircraft. He had us turn more than 90 degrees right and descend 1000 ft. I had the conflicting traffic in sight and only received a traffic warning on the TCASII. From my perspective it appeared that the ATC controller issued the turn instructions to the wrong aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMILAR CALL SIGNS CAUSE TFC PROBS WHEN CTLR USES WRONG CALL SIGN WHEN ISSUING VECTORS.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM CHS TO DTW, OUR FLT ACR XYZ WAS BEING VECTORED AFTER A CLB FROM FL210 TO FL270. THE ATC CTLR ISSUED A TURN TO 060 DEGS FOR ACR YYZ. THAT ACFT ACKNOWLEDGED. ABOUT 5 MINS LATER, THE ATC CTLR CALLED US (ACR XYZ) AND ASKED IF WE HAD TURNED TO 060 DEGS YET. WE REPLIED IN THE NEGATIVE AND ADVISED HIM THAT HE HAD ISSUED THOSE INSTRUCTIONS TO ACR YYZ. HE THEN ISSUED IMMEDIATE TURN INSTRUCTIONS TO 2 OTHER ACFT. HE HAD US TURN MORE THAN 90 DEGS R AND DSND 1000 FT. I HAD THE CONFLICTING TFC IN SIGHT AND ONLY RECEIVED A TFC WARNING ON THE TCASII. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IT APPEARED THAT THE ATC CTLR ISSUED THE TURN INSTRUCTIONS TO THE WRONG ACFT.

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.