Narrative:

While holding short of runway 04L (kbos), we were given a clearance to cross runway 04. It may be possible that the clearance to cross the runway was for another aircraft with a similar call sign. Nothing was said about that by tower, so I am still not sure whether the clearance was for us or the other aircraft. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that the possibility of a clearance problem really became a possibility in the crew's mind after they were airborne and had time to think about the clearance communications. A second company aircraft with similar sounding call sign had just landed and was waiting for clearance to cross at the far end of runway 04 as reporter heard clearance to cross. Readback was made and taxi began as second aircraft called to confirm to whom the clearance was directed. Since there are two frequencys used for tower, reporter had changed to assigned frequency and did not hear the tower response. Consequently he does not know if the clearance to cross was for him or not. With preparation for takeoff and hearing no comment from tower, the thought did not occur until later.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF FAIRCHILD COMMUTER ACFT HEARS CLRNC TO CROSS RWY FOR TKOF ON INTERSECTING RWY AND TAXIES ACROSS. THEY HEAR A COMPANY ACFT WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN REQUEST CLARIFICATION OF WHO THE CLRNC WAS FOR. ONCE AIRBORNE RPTR WONDERS IF THE CLRNC MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR THE OTHER ACFT. TWR MAKES NO COMMENT.

Narrative: WHILE HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 04L (KBOS), WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO CROSS RWY 04. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THE CLRNC TO CROSS THE RWY WAS FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH A SIMILAR CALL SIGN. NOTHING WAS SAID ABOUT THAT BY TWR, SO I AM STILL NOT SURE WHETHER THE CLRNC WAS FOR US OR THE OTHER ACFT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A CLRNC PROB REALLY BECAME A POSSIBILITY IN THE CREW'S MIND AFTER THEY WERE AIRBORNE AND HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE CLRNC COMS. A SECOND COMPANY ACFT WITH SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN HAD JUST LANDED AND WAS WAITING FOR CLRNC TO CROSS AT THE FAR END OF RWY 04 AS RPTR HEARD CLRNC TO CROSS. READBACK WAS MADE AND TAXI BEGAN AS SECOND ACFT CALLED TO CONFIRM TO WHOM THE CLRNC WAS DIRECTED. SINCE THERE ARE TWO FREQS USED FOR TWR, RPTR HAD CHANGED TO ASSIGNED FREQ AND DID NOT HEAR THE TWR RESPONSE. CONSEQUENTLY HE DOES NOT KNOW IF THE CLRNC TO CROSS WAS FOR HIM OR NOT. WITH PREPARATION FOR TKOF AND HEARING NO COMMENT FROM TWR, THE THOUGHT DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL LATER.

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.