Hcf controller concerned by similar call sign usage and unable to obtain flight number change.

Attributes
ACN	535596
Time
Date	200201
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hnl.airport
State Reference	HI
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B717
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : instrument
Experience	controller radar : 17 controller time certified in position1 : 6 flight time total : 350
ASRS Report	535596
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company FAA ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

For well over 1 yr, we (controllers) have complained to pilots, dispatchers, and FAA management both verbally and in writing about air carrier X abc and air carrier Y abc which operate daily to hnl. Hcf sector 4, hnl approach and hnl tower all have to deal with this. All controllers are aware of it, and by now all pilots should be aware, but we still have one aircraft answering or taking the others' clearance routinely. Only vigilant controller have kept an incident of some sort from occurring. Sooner or later someone's vigilance may slip, though, so why is this built-in hazard allowed to continue?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HCF CTLR CONCERNED BY SIMILAR CALL SIGN USAGE AND UNABLE TO OBTAIN FLT NUMBER CHANGE.

Narrative: FOR WELL OVER 1 YR, WE (CTLRS) HAVE COMPLAINED TO PLTS, DISPATCHERS, AND FAA MGMNT BOTH VERBALLY AND IN WRITING ABOUT ACR X ABC AND ACR Y ABC WHICH OPERATE DAILY TO HNL. HCF SECTOR 4, HNL APCH AND HNL TWR ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS. ALL CTLRS ARE AWARE OF IT, AND BY NOW ALL PLTS SHOULD BE AWARE, BUT WE STILL HAVE ONE ACFT ANSWERING OR TAKING THE OTHERS' CLRNC ROUTINELY. ONLY VIGILANT CTLR HAVE KEPT AN INCIDENT OF SOME SORT FROM OCCURRING. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE'S VIGILANCE MAY SLIP, THOUGH, SO WHY IS THIS BUILT-IN HAZARD ALLOWED TO CONTINUE?

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.